Zim, Moza businesses go into safety mode
THE effects of the Covid-19 outbreak are fast taking their toll on Manicaland and Mozambique’s Manica, with most formal businesses adhering to shutdowns directives to protect human lives.
The situation is, however, different in informal businesses as people continue to go about their businesses.
On Monday, President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced sweeping measures to stop the spreading of coronavirus, including a ban of gatherings of more than 50 people and the closure of all the country’s borders for all non-essential travel.
His Mozambican counterpart, President Filipe Nyusi, also announced a raft of measures aimed at protecting Mozambicans from the rapidly spreading coronavirus.
In Zimbabwe, the pandemic has so far claimed one person — broadcaster Mr Zororo Makamba — who succumbed to the disease early this week.
Although Manicaland and its sister province Manica are yet to record any cases of coronavirus, high alertness is now the order of the day at the borders connecting Zimbabwe and Mozambique as authorities are not leaving anything to chance.
Forbes and Machipanda border posts, which are usually hives of activity, were deserted this week.
Only truckers in transit were being served, albeit slowly.
As a result, cross-border travellers, whose daily transactions in the neighbouring countries are said to net hundred of thousands of United States dollars, are counting their losses.
But Cross-Border Traders’ Association president Mr Killer Zivhu said people’s lives cannot be risked for profits.
“Between 1 000 and 2 000 of our members used to travel to and from Mozambique on a daily basis, where about US$100 000 was being spent in buying goods for either resale or family consumption. They are affected by the ban, just like everyone else, but I commend both the Zimbabwean and Mozambican governments for prioritising the safety of the citizens.
“People should stay at home. The virus is wreaking havoc across the world and therefore we should implement precautionary measures. Traders will revert to their normal businesses when the situation improves,” said Mr Zivhu. A Mozambican vendor, Ms Estella
Saizi, who operates at an informal market situated just after Machipanda Border Post, told The Manica Post on Monday that no meaningful sales are being recorded as few travellers are crossing the border.
“This area is virtually empty. We usually have brisk business selling cool drinks to travellers between Zimbabwe and Mozambique but we are idle today.
“Commuter omnibuses usually have between 10 and 15 trips to Manica but they are also parked.”
A trucker, Mr Clive Shava, said: “We have been here since morning. Our papers were cleared on the Zimbabwean side, but only to be returned on the Mozambican side.
“Those driving into Zimbabwe are allowed passage, while we are now stuck here in no-man’s land.”
A Mozambican potter, Mr Eric George, said following President Nyusi’s announcement last week, most busy markets in Manica, which are popular with Zimbabwean cross-border traders, were closed.
“Most people from Zimbabwe were taken by surprise,” he said.
It appears the general populace, especially those in the informal sector, seem unfazed by Covid-19, which had infected 416 686 people in 196 countries across the globe by the time of going to print. A total of 18 589 deaths had been recorded world over.
Across the province, it was business as usual this week as most
A counter clerk at Transerve’s Mutare branch, Mr Naboth Chitembwe, attends to an unidentified customer while putting on a mask and gloves as most businesses have taken heed of Government’s calls to promote the safety of their employees and customers in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.—
Picture by Tinayi Nyadzayo
From Page 1 beerhalls continued to operate despite the President’s directive of their closure to stop the spreading of the virus.
Some imbibers were even sharing mugs. And unlike the major supermarkets in Mutare’s Central Business District, most grocery shops in the high-density suburbs do not have sanitisers at their entry points.
However, at Sakubva Musika, some vegetable vendors have taken heed of the President’s call to stay at home. A vegetable vendor who operates from Acid Shops in Zimta Park, said she has decided to stay at home after considering the risk posed by COVID-19.
“People need to stay at home given the rapid spread of the coronavirus across the whole world. We just hope things will get better soon,”said the vendor, who only identified herself as Mai William.
Town Clerk Mr Joshua Maligwa said they are working on modalities to decongest busy areas like Sakubva Musika and Murahwa Green Market.
The province’s local authorities, just like most corporates including The Manica Post and Diamond FM, have decongested their work stations to minimise the exposure of staff. “For now, we will retain crucial staff in the water and sewer reticulation, engineering, the Fire Brigade, Municipal Police
and health service delivery departments,” said Mr Maligwa.
The police have vowed to strictly enforce the President’s directives in order to contain the virus. Manicaland provincial police spokesperson Inspector Tavhiringwa Kakohwa said: “We encourage members of the public to desist from gathering in large numbers.
“Section 43 of the Civil Protection Act, Chapter 10:06, enables the police to charge anyone failing to comply with given instructions. This is for our own good as a country,” he said.