‘Continue to observe Covid-19 protocols’

Herald Reporter
PEOPLE must continue observing Covid-19 protocols to save lives and ignore false information that they would die if they get vaccinated, First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, who is also the country’s health ambassador, has said.

This comes at a time when Zimbabwe has been facing a surge in infections and deaths as some people were no longer wearing masks, sanitising and observing social distancing.

Some were also attending funerals in large numbers, exposing themselves to danger.

As of Sunday, Zimbabwe had lost 3 532 people to the pandemic, hence the First Lady’s plea to save lives.

Yesterday Amai Mnangagwa met elderly, widowers, widows and those living with disabilities in Zvimba where she encouraged them to embrace the ongoing vaccination programme despite their ages to achieve herd immunity.

By doing so, she said, this removes the need for lockdowns.

The mother of the nation also distributed an assortment of goods that included groceries and blankets to the vulnerable groups.

“We have come to visit you as your children. It is joyous to spend time with you teaching each other about Covid-19 and sharing with you the little that I have. This pandemic has wreaked havoc across the globe and we do not know when it will end, but we should protect ourselves always.

“Isu tega tisu tinozvisunungura from this pandemic. We should mask up, let us cover our nose and mouths and maintain social distancing. What we are doing here in Zimbabwe is exactly what other nations are doing the world over so as to stop the spread of the virus,” she said.

The First Lady taught the villagers about the importance of following the rules on funerals to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

She asked what the people understood about Covid-19 and funerals and one old lady said she would always attend funerals, especially those of close relatives for fear of being branded a proud person.

During the exchange, an elderly man Mr Francis Chanetsa (78) said because of Covid-19, it was not advisable to gather at funerals.

“When there are funerals in the communities, we are seeing people gathering in large numbers because of lack of knowledge. Kindly continue with these teachings Amai because people have not fully understood the extent of the pandemic and how devastating it is.

“The best way is to take proper precautions. Do not get tired of getting where people are to teach them because knowledge is power,” he said to applause.

The First Lady weighed in saying people had to comply with the regulations to keep the pandemic at bay.

“It’s best not to gather at funerals because the pandemic will continue spreading. Let’s maintain the set numbers and avoid gatherings. I implore you all to play a part in keeping Covid-19 at bay by simply adhering to preventive measures outlined by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Our Ministry of Health and Child Care is also monitoring the trend of this virus and encourages us on a daily basis not to loosen our guard against Covid-19,” she said.

On vaccination, the First Lady said: “As the Health ambassador I encourage you to embrace the vaccine. The world over people are protecting themselves by being vaccinated.”

Asked if they knew about vaccine, few of the elderly had knowledge, while some did not know much about it.

She then implored them to get vaccinated.

An elderly man drew laughter when he said they had been made to believe that they would die if they got vaccinated.

“Some people told us that we would die if we got vaccinated hence we never attempted to do so.

The First Lady pointed out that the claim was without basis.

“That is not true sekuru. If that was true I would have died because I was also vaccinated,” she said.

Amai Mnangagwa urged them not to listen to hearsay, but to only listen to health officials in their communities.

She further educated the people on the importance of consuming traditional foods which she said had medicinal benefits.

She asked them if they dried some of the foods for future use to which they said yes.

Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Mary Mliswa-Chikoka praised the First Lady for caring for the welfare of the people.

“Your works promote the needs of the people. They transform lives and uplift our country. You have motherly love,” she said.

One of the beneficiaries of yesterday’s programme, Mr Danger Chikumba (77) expressed gratitude to the First Lady for her love.

“I am grateful for what our mother has done for us here. We are thankful for the food hampers and the blankets. Some of us had lost hope and felt we could even die of Covid-19, but with the knowledge we got from our mother, we have faith we will survive. We have been taught a lot and are grateful,” he said with a broad smile.

Mrs Annah Chiware (79), a grandmother of 20, said the First Lady’s programme could not have come at any better time.

“I am a widow, my husband passed on in 1996. We have been given food therefore I now have something to feed my grandchildren. She has also distributed blankets to keep us warm in this cold. I am grateful and urge her to do it for many others,” she said while ululating and dancing.

Gogo Catherine Matekenya was thankful for the interactive session with the mother of the nation saying it had sharpened her mind and made her not to listen to information from unqualified people.

“I am grateful for what has been done by our mother. We had never seen this. Now she has taught us a lot on issues we did not know. People were lying to us that once vaccinated we would die. Our mother has given us correct information. She also gave us toiletries and food; maize-meal, cooking oil, rice and sugar to make ourselves sweet tea and porridge for our grandchildren.”

Another elderly man thanked the First Lady for visiting the area, saying much of the time rural communities were left exposed due to knowledge gaps, a vacuum that was now being filled by the First Lady through her awareness programmes.

Amai Mnangagwa said that it was critical not to leave anyone behind to avoid reinfections which would degenerate into a vicious cycle.

Yesterday’s programme was held in adherence to health guidelines to prevent Covid-19 transmission such as wearing of face masks, sanitising and maintenance of social distance.

People were also being tested for Covid-19.