Suburban
It is barely a month after the relaxation of the COVID-19 lockdown measures by the Government, but it appears people are already letting down the guard.
Indiscipline is rapidly being witnessed as people violate lockdown regulations. People can be seen milling around the central business districts and shopping centres in the residential areas without wearing face masks.
Some businesses are also failing to enforce the COVID-19 regulations by allowing customers to move around their shops without wearing masks. Commuters are also putting themselves at serious risk by using pirate taxis commonly known as mushika-shikas where they will be packed like sardines. In cases where the commuters might be wearing masks, it is not unusual to find drivers of these pirate taxis and their touts not wearing masks exposing the passengers.
A number of liquor outlets are also selling beer way beyond their closing times while not bothering to prevent their customers from congregating at the bottle stores where they engage in public drinking.
Music concerts are being held despite the fact that social events are still prohibited as part of the measures announced by Government recently. Of late prominent people and personalities have been talking openly about how they were treated at a recent music gig hosted at a hotel owned by a well known church leader.
Influential people in society such as artists and church leaders must infact be taking the lead and helping the Government, health authorities and law enforcement agencies by being examplary in adhering to the COVID-19 regulations. This week Government and the Zimbabwe Republic Police expressed concern over the complacency being witnessed in the central business districts and in residential areas where people seem mistaken that the COVID-19 pandemic is no longer an issue.
On Tuesday, Government announced that it was worried at its weekly Cabinet meeting where it noted with great concern the increased number of people miling around the central business districts and other public places, often without regard to masking and social distancing.
Police also reminded the public that they are expected to still adhere to COVID-19 regulations by properly wearing masks covering the mouth and nose, practicing social distancing and observing the curfew times set by the Government.
They warned members of the public against complacency and were worried particularly by the failure to wear masks. The police said between March 1 and Wednesday this week a total of 14 938 people had been arrested for failing to wear masks. On Tuesday this week, a total of 2 466 people were arrested for COVID-19 related breaches, of which 1 777 were for failing to wear masks.
