Zimbabwe shuts its public services after death of Moyo
Zimbabwe’s government has moved to shut down its public service operations after the death of foreign affairs minister Sibusiso Moyo, who died from Covid-19 on Wednesday.
Moyo was a key ally of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, and had been touted as his potential successor.
The former army general who rose to prominence after announcing the November 2017 military coup that ousted former president Robert Mugabe, was also seen as a de facto prime minister in Mnangagwa’s government as he handled many key portfolios in addition to the foreign affairs ministry.
There was panic in government circles after his death, with the ministry of information immediately announcing an effective shutdown that will see only 10% of public sector workers required to report for duty.
Zimbabwe is already in the midst of a 30-day lockdown period to curb rising Covid-19 cases. By January 20, it had recorded 29,408 cases and 879 deaths. On average more than 50 people are dying from the virus daily.
But the figures are believed to be much higher than that as the health system has all but crashed and its reporting networks compromised.
The country is under a 6pm6am curfew and has banned interprovincial travel as well as limiting the number of people in public gatherings.
In a statement late on Wednesday, secretary for information Nick Mangwana said the government would close down 90% of its departments.
“From tomorrow, January 21 to February 3, all ministries, government departments and agencies (except for health ministry) will be operating with only 10% of its staff.
“Those who can work from home will be doing that,” Mangwana said of the decision that is likely to affect the provision of public services.
Mnangagwa on Wednesday said he had lost a personal friend and strategist.
The EU ambassador to Zimbabwe, Timo Olkkonen, said Moyo’s death was sad.
“While we had a fair share of differences of views and opinions, I always valued our frank, open and good-humoured exchanges,” said Olkkonen.
“Zimbabwe has lost a professional foreign minister and a great interlocutor. My sincere condolences go to family, friends and colleagues.