adminHerald Correspondent
The Mashonaland West Provincial taskforce team on Covid-19 has been challenged to up its game in the fight against the pandemic, with particular attention on the Harare-Chirundu Highway which is being used by haulage truck drivers to illegally carry returning citizens and passengers moving from one city to the other.
It is believed the $500 fine is not deterrent enough amid reports that passengers were paying fares in foreign currency.
The Harare-Chirundu Highway provides passage for truckers and people travelling to South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo and other East African countries, making it lucrative for truck drivers to carry passengers.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa, who is also a National Taskforce committee member, called for the minimisation of inter-district and town movements.
She was speaking in Chinhoyi over the weekend where she said complacency had been taking the better of most citizens.
Minister Mutsvangwa stressed the importance of observing the lockdown and challenged security forces to rise to the occasion if the spread of Covid-19 was to be checked.
“The Chirundu trunk road is a point of concern given the volume of trans-border traffic using the highway, cross border trucks should not pick up passengers along this highway,” she said.
Minister Mutsvangwa said inter-city or town public transport and inessential transport to all rural areas remained banned.
Over 60 truck drivers have been arrested by police and fined for carrying passengers.
On issues of water and electricity challenges affecting some of isolation centres in Mashonaland West Province, Minister Mutsvangwa said the National Food and Water Sustainability Subcommittee had been engaged so that the water pump at Sanganayi Creek in Zvimba District, which has broken down, should be attended to.
Energy and Power Development Minister Fortune Chasi is helping to address electricity challenges at Siakobvu Growth Point, which is presently affecting Siakobvu Hospital water supplies.
Minister Mutsvangwa said the Logistics Subcommittee was working on a fuel facility with CMED and Petrotrade such that all vehicles used for Covid-19 duties were fuelled.
Availability of more test kits in a consistent manner, she said, was challenged by procurement due to global demand, but assured the nation of improved stocks following an increase in the flow of the kits aimed at clearing testing backlogs and equipping health centres.
Online Reporter