“Test! Test! Test”! The World Health Organisation (WHO) has
advised all nations ever since it became clear that the corona virus was very contagious
and was spreading. WHO declared covid-19 a pandemic 12 March 2020. Sadly,
nearly a month later since the declaration and with 9 confirmed corona virus
cases in the country Zimbabwe still continues to drag her feet on testing.
“In terms of testing there is equipment at the National
University of Science and Technology and at Mpilo Hospital. We are in the
process of combining these so we can do the testing here locally. I understand
in Bulawayo we currently have the rapid testing equipment but it is not
complete, so they have not started testing, therefore testing is at the moment
only being done in Harare where samples from all corners of the country are
sent,” said the Minister of Local Government and Public Works, July Moyo at a
Press conference in Bulawayo.
As of today 5th April 2020, Zimbabwe has 9 confirm
corona virus cases one of whom has since died. One would be tempted to take
comfort in the small number but they will be wrong. The country has only carried
out 316 test which is a drop in a bucketful!
One infected person can meet 5 people in their normal day
interaction to whom they could potential infect with the virus. The following
day the infected person plus the 5 infected the day before could infect 5 more
people each. By the end of the week, 7th day, there will be
potential 6 times 6 repeated seven times or 6^7 = 279 936.
In other words after a week, each confirmed corona virus case
may have infected 279 936 others who must now be traced and tested. We have 9
confirmed corona virus patients and each has had more one week to infect others
and we have only done 316 tests in total! This is a sick joke!
There should be fully equipped and staffed test facilities in each
of the country’s 10 provinces capable of doing 100 test a day at least.
Zimbabwe’s public health service has all but collapsed; there a
chronic shortage of doctors and nurses, even big hospitals like Parerenyatwa
regularly run out of even the most basic medicine like pain killers and even
clean running water. It is naïve to even talking of mobilizing such a crippled health
care service to deal with corona virus patients. Of what value will a 50 or
even 500 bed corona virus hospital be if the number of people requiring
hospital treatment can soar to 50 plus a day in the first week of the outbreak.
And the demand for beds then grows exponential for the next three or four
months!
Zimbabwe’s ill-resourced health care service will be completely overwhelmed
within days of the virus outbreak. The country’s only fighting chance to
contain the virus is by getting ahead of the curve – stop the outbreak
happening. By instituting a very aggressive testing program, the nation will
detect and isolate the infected person before they have time to spread the
virus.
We should not forget that Zimbabwe is in this economic and
political mess because of 40 years of gross mismanagement, rampant corruption
and tyrannical rule by Zanu PF. The people have failed to remove the party from
office all these years because Mnangagwa and company rigged the elections.
The biggest mistake the people of Zimbabwe have ever made was to
allow Zanu PF to get away with rigged elections again and again. And, by Jove,
we have paid dearly for that folly.
40 years of Zanu PF misrule have destroyed Zimbabwe’s once
prosperous economy and 34% of the population now live in extreme poverty. Zanu
PF has ridden roughshod over the people, denying them their freedoms and basic
rights. Corona virus is pushing the price we are paying for decades of bad
governance to new dizzying heights.
Corona virus has wreaked havoc in those countries with well-resourced
health services and most important of responsive, competent, accountable and
stable government. Still, as many as 1% of these country’s population will die
from corona virus and the country will slide into deep depression forcing 5% to
live in abject poverty.
Zimbabwe’s collapsed health service will mean many more lives
will be lost; as many as 10% of the population or 1.5 million will die. The
economy, in ruins already before the virus outbreak, will sink into even deeper
trouble. The number living in abject poverty will double from 34% to 68%!
The price of buying the test kits and carrying out 1 000 test
per day for the next three months will be a fraction of the price the nation
will pay in human suffering, lost lives and the economic cost in one day should
there be a fully fledged corona virus outbreak. It is not too late to start an
aggressive test program.
Of all the foolish things to be fighting over and the timing could not be worse for Zimbabwe, in the middle of the existential covid-19 threat!
ReplyDeleteVillagers from Buvuma area of Gwanda South have reported that three people have died in the area allegedly due to malaria, according to a local health centre.
ReplyDeleteTerrified villagers who spoke to ZimEye.com in confidence indicated that the three people were part of eight people in the area who have exhibited rare signs of a malaria infection leaving them believing that the deaths could have been Coronavirus cases.
The best advice for Zimbabweans is to assume that everyone who dies from now on died of covid-19 unless he/she was tested and found to be negative. People must remember that someone who dies of corona virus is high contagious and hence the reason why no one with no PPE is allowed to visit a sick person even on their deathbed and the dead are cremated within 24 hours if possible with not relatives present.
The real tragedy is Zanu PF is not carrying out the tests; carried out only 316 tests as of 30 March 2020, a drop in the ocean. The real tragedy here is by failing to test many more people are going to be infected and so many more people will die!
We must never ever forget that Mnangagwa is a ruthless autocratic dictator and not a democrat. He knows that the country’s worsen economic meltdown has underlined the failures of the 40 years of tyrannical Zanu PF misrule as the nation has been dragged deeper and deeper into the abyss. The voices crying for meaningful democratic change have been growing louder and louder these last two decades.
ReplyDeleteThe corona virus pandemic is going to expose just how corrupt and incompetent this Zanu PF regime is like never before. As the death toll from the corona virus soars the people will ask why was it that the ruling elite poured billions of dollars into building these sprawling palatial Blue Roof mansions and left key institutions like Parerenyatwa Hospital to rot and decay?
Even now at the on set of the corona virus outbreak; why is it that the country has more Police Officers, Soldiers, CIO Officers and Prison Service Officers, all well paid and well equipped with tear-gas, water-cannons, guns, bullets, etc.; and very few doctors, nurses, teachers, social workers, all poorly paid and equipped?
Mnangagwa was praising the people for their “discipline and unity” during the lockdown but just to remind everyone that he would, indeed, set his ruthless security dogs on the people if they dare ask any awkward questions, he deployed the dogs. Whereas other nations have been recalling retired medical staff to help fight the corona virus pandemic; Mnangagwa has bolstered the state terror machine.
The corona virus pandemic has shaken the whole world to its foundation just as other major events such as the Second World War. When you lay new foundation to rebuild you have the opportunity for real change. One notable change out of the WWII is the breakup of the colonial empires and many nations gained their independence.
The notable change to come out of the corona virus pandemic has to be the dismantling of this failed corrupt, incompetent, vote rigging and murderous Zanu PF dictatorship. Zimbabwe’s murderous security dogs have a “Shoot to kill!” standing order, we all know that. But after 40 years of ruinous and tyrannical rule the people will know the dictatorship must go and their will, in the end, prevail!
Mnangagwa declared a 21-day lockdown starting on March 30 to help slowdown the spread of the novel coronavirus – but for many, staying at home is a luxury they can scarcely afford.
ReplyDeleteWithout running water, many residents crowded around boreholes for the precious liquid while others stood in queues to buy the scarce maize meal staple.
There is no denying that social distancing is impossible where people are forced to live cheek by jowl and have to queue for water, food, to use the toilet, etc. And in these crowded situations, corona virus will spread like grass fire and it is spreading!
The failure to provide clean running water and sanitation is one of the problems that manifested soon after independence and is all due to poor planning on this Zanu PF regime. Today every city and town in Zimbabwe is struggling to supply clean running water on a regular basis. Some communities have no water for days or even weeks on end. Indeed, some suburbs in Harare and other big cities have had no water for years!
Zimbabwe will need all the help it can get in cash or kind for corona virus test kits, PPE for frontline staff, ventilators, specialist personal, etc. And now it is clear the country will also need help in making sure there is clean running water!
In this day and age, we still failing to supply something as basic as clean water and hygienic sanitation! What a damning testimonial of just how corrupt, incompetent and utterly useless this Zanu PF dictatorship is! And we, the people, are paying dearly for our folly at allowing such a regime determine the nation’s destiny all these last 40 years. Look where Zanu PF has landed us!!!!
"I have just got a plaintive appeal from a resident of Waverley in Kadoma intimating wanton disregard of lockdown especially by the youths. If discipline is not internally generated, it might have to be introduced externally. Musazoti mavara azare ivhu!!!!" Charamba posted on Twitter.
ReplyDeleteWatson Chipare was of a different view calling on government to address the poverty faced by most Zimbabweans. "Personally, I support every government initiative in arresting this menace, but as government what are you doing to mitigate poverty and hunger in these communities," said Chipare.
Charamba said eliminating poverty was not an overnight process.
"Can't be an overnight wonder mufunge; situation much worse because of lockdown which attacks livelihoods of the vulnerable. My worry over this has a very good ear and we beginning to experience traction on SMEs and informal businesses," he said.
As much as Mnangagwa was praising Zimbabweans for their “discipline and unity during the lockdown” over the week, the nation was well aware that the regime had deployed the Police, Army and CIO to enforce the lockdown. This is a regime that has always wielded the big stick to cow the nation into submission.
Yes, poverty cannot be eliminated overnight but we are talking here of how Zanu PF misrule of the last 40 years has destroyed the country’s economy and created the poverty. The people could not remove Zanu PF from office because the party rigged the elections!
Zanu PF has always ridden roughshod over the people denying them the basic freedoms and rights including the right to a meaningful vote and even the right to life.
When Mnangagwa talks of “discipline and unity” he is talking of everyone must accept Zanu PF rule even when that rule is the root cause of the heart-breaking suffering and deaths. He wants the people to suffer and die in silence like sheep! He has stripped the people of all their freedoms and rights, their right to life and hope and is now stripping them of their humanity.
Mnangagwa decree is for Zimbabweans to die of hunger and/or corona virus without ever uttering a word questioning his corrupt and tyrannical rule or be torn to pieces by the regime’s murderous thugs! Of course, it is insane to obey such an utterly irrational decree!
High Court Judge Justice Owen Tagu will on Monday 6 April 2020 preside over the determination of an urgent chamber application filed by Chitungwiza Residents Trust (Chitrest), represented by Tonderai Bhatasara and Tinashe Chinopfukutwa of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), protesting against the pro-longed lack of running tap water supplies in Chitungwiza.
ReplyDeleteThe failure to supply clean running water will contribute to the spread of the deadly corona virus. WHO has advised repeatedly that people “must wash their hands for 20 seconds with soap and clean water!” And even Zimbabwe government officials themselves repeated the message.
Yet every city and town in Zimbabwe today has failed to supply clean running water at one point or another on a regular basis. Have no water for days or even weeks on end is a common occurrence in Zimbabwe. Some suburbs have had no running water for months and even years!
The lack of clean water in the rural areas is the norm.
We are out there begging for cash and kind donations for corona virus test kits, PPE for frontline staff, ventilators and all the other specialist staff and equipment to fight corona virus. And now it turns out, we also need the donors to help us supply clean water too! S***t!
The failure to supply something as basic as clean water, in this day and age, is a damning testimonial of just how corrupt, incompetent and utterly useless this Zanu PF government is.
Worst of all, one has to ask: What kind of people would allow themselves to be led like sheep to the slaughter for 40 years down such a disastrous path?
UPDATE: 05 APRIL 2020
ReplyDeleteToday is day 7 of the 21-day TOTAL LOCKDOWN period in Zimbabwe.
During this Lockdown period, and in line with guidance from WHO, the Ministry is prioritizing, finding, testing, isolation, and treatment of every case in the country as well as tracing every contact as key strategies to identify all suspected cases and minimize community spread of COVID-19.
The Ministry would like to report that today, the National Microbiology Reference Laboratory tested 9 samples.
All of them tested negative for COVID-19.
WHO guidelines say that an infected person will contact five people a day to whom he/she could pass the virus. Tracing meanings trying to find these five individuals and testing them. With each passing day the infected person will contact another five more people and so too will those he/she infected the first day. So, starting with just one infected the number of people to be traced and tested goes from 1 to 6 to 36 and so on by the end of day seven this number is 279 936.
Zimbabwe has 9 confirmed cases of corona virus and each of these individuals were free to infect others for at least a week before they were put into isolation or died, in the case of the late Zororo Makamba. So, the number of people to be traced and tested has swollen to over 2.5 million. To be testing 9 a day is just nonsense!
Zimbabwe should at least be testing every deceased person just to be certain it was not a corona virus related death. It is nonsense to believe only 9 people are dying a day!
Zimbabwe does not have the resources to deal with the demand for specialist health care that comes with the corona virus outbreak as we have seen in Italy, USA, etc. Zimbabwe’s only hope to stop corona virus was by stopping the virus spreading in the first place by putting all its effort into testing and tracing.
The sheer incompetence with which Zanu PF is handling this corona virus pandemic is typical of the regime but the consequences to the nation this time are huge, counting in the number of dead!
To date, 46 African states have reported a total of 9 198 positive cases and 414 deaths, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Besides South Africa and Egypt, the countries of Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Burkina Faso, Ghana and Senegal have all reported over 100 cases, mostly imported by visitors from Europe.
ReplyDeleteMost African countries have not followed the common sense advice to trace and test as many as possible all those who might have come in contact with someone with corona virus. Zimbabwe has 9 confirmed corona virus cases and yet to date has carried out less than 400 tests! Even now, the country is not even carrying out tests on all suspicious deaths. The country is only carrying out a total of 9 tests per day!
Countries like Zimbabwe have no clue how the corona virus is spreading in the country they will be forced to wake-up to that reality when number of dead are soaring and cannot be ignored anymore! By then the situation will be so bad that the nation will be failing to cope with the task of burying the dead!
@ Shem Chaibva
ReplyDeleteAlthough COVID-19 is said to affect the elderly more, this is cold comfort for Africa, which is a region that has the youngest population compared to other regions. Vulnerability to widespread COVID-19 in Africa is more related to underlying health conditions , of which Africans have a disproportionate share. The prevalence of HIV – AIDS and malnutrition in Africa make it plausible that younger people in Africa could be more susceptible to COVID-19 than other regions. Health systems in Africa are also already stretched in dealing with ongoing disease burdens like malaria and Ebola. This means that there are fewer resources now in Africa to deal with widespread COVID-19, which is now increasingly inevitable.
Measures to try and contain the virus such as national lockdowns, social distances, factory closures and travel restrictions are going to cripple supply chains, reduce output, hit commodities and send confidence on a downward spiral.
The lockdown in most African countries was such an ill-advised and inaptly implemented affair it is no exaggeration to call them a copycat that backfired with disastrous consequences. Urban centres are, more often than not the epicentres of the corona virus as the virus is brought into the country from outside. The urban dwellers are more mobile.
So, a lockdown of the urban centres would have been more appropriate than nationwide. Worse still, a nationwide lockdown that allowed urban dwellers to move to rural areas before the lockdown was a very foolish thing indeed.
China lockdown Wuhan, the epicentre of the virus, and not the whole of China. And it would have been down right stupid to let the people of Wuhan travel to every corner of China and then have the nationwide lockdown.
The main reason why leaders like Mnangagwa were quick off the mark in imposing the lockdown is because controlling the populous appeals to his tyrannical nature and he and his security dogs are relishing every minute of it. Police have even been seizing truckloads of vegetables and burning them!
Since Zimbabwe has not been testing to see how the virus is doing during the lockdown the is no reason why the lockdown should be extended beyond the original 21 days! There was no data to justify imposing the lockdown and no data to justify extending it – the regime was just shooting in the dark.
The Zimbabwe Electricity Distribution Company (ZETDC) announced an increase in tariffs by 19,2 percent, at a time when the country is no longer experiencing prolonged power cuts.
ReplyDeleteAccording to a notice by the ZETDC, 200 units of electricity, which used to be sold for $157, will now cost $162,50, while 50 units which used to cost $20,50 will now cost $24,50. After 200 units have been consumed, all other units will now go for a punitive $4,61 per kilowatt hour (kWh) compared to $3,87 per kWh before.
The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) has approved an increase in the price of fuel after the government increased the amount of exercise duty. The new fuel prices are effective Sunday, 5 April 2020.
Diesel has now gone up to ZWL $21.52 from ZWL$18.66 per litre while Blended Petrol has gone up to ZWL$21.77 per litre from ZWL$18.70
The increase in the price of fuel and electricity has triggered a new wave of price increase of everything except, as usual, wages. Indeed, the workers have just effectively had a salary cut; they will earn nothing during the 21-day lockdown and will be lucky to have a job at the end of the lockdown! Many companies were struggling before the corona virus, many will not survive the economic chaos that is to follow.
Countries like UK have already approved economic packages designed to help business and to make sure no one starves. The UK government will pay 80% of the worker’s wage of companies that will not lay-off their workers during these difficult days. The country’s welfare system will help the rest.
It is clear that this Zanu PF government has no plan what to do to look after the poorest of the poor, to protect the country’s few functioning industries, to kick-start the economy once the corona virus blows over, etc. Nothing! Allowing these fuel and electricity price increases will only make the economic situation even worse and throw even more people that the present 34% into abject poverty! At 34% in abject poverty Zimbabwe was already the worst in the region with single digit figures.
Zimbabwe is in this economic mess because of 40 years of gross mismanagement and rampant corruption. Corona virus has made the situation worse but given Zanu PF’s breath-taking incompetence the regime will make the situation truly hell-on-earth for us all!
Whilst other nation are going to get financial assistance, for example, the WB, IMF and most other institutions and donors will be loathed to give Zimbabwe much because they all know most of the assistance will be looted by the ruling elite!