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Zimbabwe Extends COVID-19 Lockdown; Businesses Cry for Relief

Columbus Mavhunga

   HARARE - Zimbabwe has extended a nationwide coronavirus lockdown by two
   weeks to try to halt the spread of infections. The country has 25
   confirmed infections so far and three deaths from the virus. Public
   health experts welcomed the extended restrictions but businesses and
   traders say they need relief to survive the economic damage.

   In a Sunday evening televised address, President Emmerson Mnangagwa
   said Zimbabwe was not yet in a position to end the lockdown aimed at
   containing the spread of'¯COVID-19 as transmission rates were rising in
   the country and the world over.

   "Guided by these realities, and to allow ourselves greater leeway to
   prepare for worse times which are likely ahead, government has decided
   to extend with immediate effect the national lockdown by a further 14
   days'¦ up to 3rd May, 2020. It has been a very hard decision my
   government has had to take reluctantly. But it has been a necessary and
   unavoidable decision in the circumstances in which we find ourselves.
   Government is acutely aware of the need to keep the economy running,
   albeit at subdued levels," he said.

   He said nothing about demands from the Zimbabwe National Chamber of
   Commerce, which has called for a reduction in the value added tax and a
   lowering of interest rates to rescue struggling businesses.

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