By Vumani Mthiyane
Gwanda Mayor Njabulo Siziba has called for a total lockdown of the mining town to control the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic which has claimed about 10 lives in the last three days.
In an interview with CITE, Cllr Siziba said the situation calls for urgent attention.
“From the look of things, the current Covid-19 deaths being experienced in Gwanda over the past three days is calling for urgent attention. The local Covid task force has the ultimate recommendation about what to do with the current situation.
I, therefore, propose a total shutdown for a week or two while we monitor the situation. However, this is subject to discussion. Our town is now a hot spot as a whole,” said the Mayor.
Responding to the recommendation, Gwanda acting district development coordinator Thulani Moyo said it was within the purview of the health ministry to recommend a total lockdown.
The Minister of Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Abedinico Ncube, Provincial Development Coordinator, Latiso Dlamini are reportedly battling the respiratory disease.
District Medical Officer Dr Blessing Gwarimbo told CITE that “the situation is not rosy, this pandemic is wreaking havoc”
“This week alone we experienced 11 deaths from the isolation centre (Phakama Isolation centre) which is not pleasing,” said Dr Gwarimbo.
“Public should exercise strict covid-19 preventative measures masking up properly, sanitizing, maintain social distance and avoid gatherings. The main challenge is that the community is presenting late to health facilities after they have tried unproven methods to treat themselves the delay is contributing to the number of deaths we are experiencing.”
Matabeleland South Provincial Education Director Lifias Masukume succumbed to Covid-19 related complications on Friday, while Mat South Zanu PF party chairperson, Rabelang Choeni and Agricultural Show Society former president George Chipengo also succumbed to the pandemic recently.
