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| Neshuro growth point, Mwenezi |
TellZim Reporter
MASVINGO
– Some
business people at Nyika growth point have complained that they are being
unfairly disadvantaged by the District Covid-19 Taskforce which they accuse of
abusing the national lockdown order to allow only a select few shops to
operate.
– Some
business people at Nyika growth point have complained that they are being
unfairly disadvantaged by the District Covid-19 Taskforce which they accuse of
abusing the national lockdown order to allow only a select few shops to
operate.
“They are moving around
ordering everybody else to close except a few shops that were selected in a corrupt
manner. There is confusion and ignorance as to who the lockdown order exempts
as well as the terms and conditions, and we are being taken advantage of,” said
one business person.
ordering everybody else to close except a few shops that were selected in a corrupt
manner. There is confusion and ignorance as to who the lockdown order exempts
as well as the terms and conditions, and we are being taken advantage of,” said
one business person.
Another shop owner said
a vehicle recently drove around the whole growth point threatening smaller
businesses with severe consequences if they did not close immediately.
a vehicle recently drove around the whole growth point threatening smaller
businesses with severe consequences if they did not close immediately.
“They drove around
using a hailer mounted on a pick-up truck. We were made to close early in the
morning when we had just opened for the business of the day. We all pay tax and
rates, and we employ people so we don’t understand why somebody could
arbitrarily handpick those who are allowed to operate. They must rather put us
in groups and allocate us alternating trading days,” said the business person.
using a hailer mounted on a pick-up truck. We were made to close early in the
morning when we had just opened for the business of the day. We all pay tax and
rates, and we employ people so we don’t understand why somebody could
arbitrarily handpick those who are allowed to operate. They must rather put us
in groups and allocate us alternating trading days,” said the business person.
In a stamped letter
dated April 07, the taskforce makes it clear that only Chingwanga, N.Richards,
Major Family Savings (MFS), Mutema, Bilcro Groceries and Flexi Mart are allowed
to open.
dated April 07, the taskforce makes it clear that only Chingwanga, N.Richards,
Major Family Savings (MFS), Mutema, Bilcro Groceries and Flexi Mart are allowed
to open.
The committee is largely
made up of the District Development Coordinator (DDC)’s office, Bikita RDC, health
authorities and the security services sector.
made up of the District Development Coordinator (DDC)’s office, Bikita RDC, health
authorities and the security services sector.
When contacted for
comment, Bikita RDC CEO Peter Chibhi said it was the taskforce’s duty to do all
that it deemed necessary to reduce the spread of Covid-19.
comment, Bikita RDC CEO Peter Chibhi said it was the taskforce’s duty to do all
that it deemed necessary to reduce the spread of Covid-19.
“If we open all
groceries shops in the growth point, it will be congested yet we need to
decongest it. The problem is that our community has not experienced a single
case or death due to Covid-19. If we are to have a full-blown outbreak, then
everybody will voluntarily shut down their shops,” said Chibhi.
groceries shops in the growth point, it will be congested yet we need to
decongest it. The problem is that our community has not experienced a single
case or death due to Covid-19. If we are to have a full-blown outbreak, then
everybody will voluntarily shut down their shops,” said Chibhi.
When asked about
complaints about the alleged corruption and unfairness involved in
cherry-picking those that are allowed to operate and those that are forbidden,
Chibhi said the arrangement was a result of a decision by the taskforce.
complaints about the alleged corruption and unfairness involved in
cherry-picking those that are allowed to operate and those that are forbidden,
Chibhi said the arrangement was a result of a decision by the taskforce.
“That is the
responsibility of the taskforce to direct.
If we allow all shops to open then there will be chaos in the growth point.
The media would then say, people are not observing the lockdown order,” he
said.
responsibility of the taskforce to direct.
If we allow all shops to open then there will be chaos in the growth point.
The media would then say, people are not observing the lockdown order,” he
said.
Some business ownersin
Zaka and Mwenezi complained that they too were in a similar predicament, and
they no longer bothered opening their shops since the stipulated timeframes
keep on changing, to the delight of corrupt police officers who use the
uncertainty to elicit for bribes.
Zaka and Mwenezi complained that they too were in a similar predicament, and
they no longer bothered opening their shops since the stipulated timeframes
keep on changing, to the delight of corrupt police officers who use the
uncertainty to elicit for bribes.
Shops were initially allowed
to trade between 09:00hrs and 15:00hrs, but the trading hours were later
changed to between 09:00hrs and 13:00hrs. Many big grocers have, however, have
since reverted to trading between 09:00hrs and 15:00hrs.
to trade between 09:00hrs and 15:00hrs, but the trading hours were later
changed to between 09:00hrs and 13:00hrs. Many big grocers have, however, have
since reverted to trading between 09:00hrs and 15:00hrs.
The Public Health
(Covid-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) (National Lockdown) Order,
2020 commonly referred to as Statutory Instrument 83 of 2020 was gazetted on
March 28, 2020.
(Covid-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) (National Lockdown) Order,
2020 commonly referred to as Statutory Instrument 83 of 2020 was gazetted on
March 28, 2020.
The instrument lays
down the lockdown rules valid for a period of 21 days from March 30 – April 19,
2020.
down the lockdown rules valid for a period of 21 days from March 30 – April 19,
2020.
Businesses offering
what are defined as essential services are allowed to operate within stipulated
timeframes and these include shops selling basic commodities, health services providers
as well as those offering electricity and water services.
what are defined as essential services are allowed to operate within stipulated
timeframes and these include shops selling basic commodities, health services providers
as well as those offering electricity and water services.
