State security agencies in Bulawayo tightened lockdown restrictions, Wednesday, following recommendations made by the Cabinet that the country’s two largest cities were Covid-19 hotspots.
Most residents were on Wednesday barred from entering the Central Business District (CBD) by police and soldiers manning roadblocks as they failed to produce exemption letters.
Some vendors and residents walked back home in the morning after being forced to disembark from buses.
Nonhlanhla Ncube, a resident from Entumbane, told CITE she could not get into the CBD for her supplies because she had no exemption letter.
“I wanted to get into town to buy a few groceries for home. When we got to the roadblock at NOCZIM Matshobana, the police and soldiers ordered every passenger to disembark. Those who had no exemption letters were told to go back home,” she said.
On Tuesday, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Monica Mutsvangwa announced that cabinet had resolved that the current lockdown restrictions be tightened and localised lockdowns to be introduced in hotspot areas.
President Mnangagwa is expected to announce the latest restrictions soon.
As of July 14, Bulawayo had recorded 188 cases, 88 recoveries and 7 deaths.
Nationally, confirmed cases climbed to 1064 with 395 recoveries and 20 deaths.
