Complying with Covid-19 regulations is still a challenge for rural communities, with enforcement also seemingly more relaxed compared to urban areas, CITE has established.
Zimbabwe which currently stands at 401 confirmed Covid-19 cases, 63 recoveries and four deaths, remains on indefinite Level 2 lockdown.
Under the current lockdown regulations businesses in all sectors of the economy are allowed to operate.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has also urged players in the informal sector to register their enterprises before resuming operations as well.
Wearing of masks and use of sanitisers at public places are some of the requirements of the lockdown.
Public gatherings remain restricted to only 50 persons.
However, a recent visit by CITE to Mangwe, Matabeleland South, revealed that compliance with regulations remained a challenge for villagers.
CITE witnessed a number of people at Khalanyoni business centre, going about their businesses without masks, while some shops were not sanitising customers.
“Wearing of masks this side is not prioritised by many people, maybe because we have not come across anyone with coronavirus,” said Thenjiwe Ncube, a villager in the area.
She said while in some villages, people wear masks at funeral gatherings numbers far exceed 50.
However, instead of sanitising visitors to homesteads, villagers use water mixed with washing powder, with 5-litre containers of such mixtures having become common features in front of homesteads.
In the neighbouring Bulilima district, compliance is also not smooth.
“People are complying although it is a bit difficult in rural areas,” said Maxwell Maphosa, acting health services administrator for Bulilima District Medical Officer.
“You will find that in every household there is a place for washing hands. Before you enter you wash your hands. That shows compliance.”
Maphosa added: “Although water is a challenge in rural areas, they (villagers) have their sources of water where they originally get their water, so they just fill the containers by the gate so that anyone who comes in, washes their hands.”
