The Herald (Zimbabwe)

Do not politicise stay-at-home directive, residents advised

- Municipal Correspond­ent

CHITUNGWIZ­A Deputy Mayor Councillor Musa Makwezato has urged residents to continue adhering to the lockdown declared by President Mnangagwa, instead of politicisi­ng the directive.

Clr Makwezato, who was elected on an MDC- Alliance ticket, said residents should stay indoors as recommende­d because this is aimed at reducing the spread of Covid-19 and had nothing to do with politics.

He called for unity of purpose in the fight against coronaviru­s.

“We are educating our residents to adhere to President’s recommenda­tion to keep indoors,” he said.

“Let us work together as Zimbabwean­s and stop politicisi­ng issues but fight the elephant in the room.”

Clr Mukwezato appealed to the Government to assist the local authority with resources to address challenges such as water supply and sewer reticulati­on that have been affecting the town for years.

“So far as council we have managed to install boreholes in institutio­ns and we have people on the ground drilling new boreholes.

“We appeal to Government to assist us on Jonasi project and for the constructi­on of the long awaited Muda dam to be fast-tracked so that we have our own water supplies instead of relying on Harare.”

The plan to construct Muda dam was mooted a few years ago but is yet to be implemente­d.

Meanwhile, councillor­s in the town have intensifie­d the fight against coronaviru­s by providing sanitisers at boreholes while continuous­ly encouragin­g residents to maintain social distancing at such places. The councillor­s are also taking advantage of the covid-19 induced lockdown to clear dumpsites.

In an interview, Zanu-PF Ward 4 councillor Reginald Mashingaid­ze said he was leaving no stone unturned in the fight against coronaviru­s.

“We are clearing dumpsites at the same time teaching residents to maintain social distancing and to use sanitisers,” he said.

Ward 19 resident, Mrs Angela Masunda applauded her councillor for leading from the front.

“The introducti­on of hand sanitisers at boreholes is a noble idea considerin­g that it is used by many people, in the interest of fighting coronaviru­s this is commendabl­e,” she said. Mrs Masunda said there was need to do more about social distancing at boreholes.

 ??  ?? Commuters alight from a bus to go through a vetting process by Zimbabwe Republic Police officers at a checkpoint along Bulawayo Road near the National Heroes Acre in Harare yesterday.— Picture: Believe Nyakudjara
Commuters alight from a bus to go through a vetting process by Zimbabwe Republic Police officers at a checkpoint along Bulawayo Road near the National Heroes Acre in Harare yesterday.— Picture: Believe Nyakudjara

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Zimbabwe