Sundaymail Editor
Richard Muponde
PROMINENT health expert and Mpilo Central Hospital chief executive officer, Professor Solwayo Ngwenya, has said the new Covid-19 variant – C1.2 – that has been discovered in South Africa could impact Zimbabwe more than the current Delta variant.
The Delta variant is largely responsible for the third wave of infections that started in June.
The latest variant was reportedly discovered in Gauteng province and has since spread to other provinces.
Professor Ngwenya said Zimbabwe may already have this variant but could be very low in prevalence because of the lockdown that is in place.
“There is so many movements taking place. The new variant was found in Gauteng province and we have so many ‘Omalayitsha’ (cross-border transporters) coming here from there,” he said.
“It only takes 10 hours for a ‘Malayitsha’ to come to Bulawayo, for example. So, in terms of geographical location, we are very close South Africa that whatever happens there, happens here almost instantly.
“The new variant could be circulating at very low levels. But these variants can increase if we become complacent.”
He said the new variant has already been detected in 10 other countries in the world, including the United Kingdom.
His sentiments were corroborated by another health expert, Medical and Dental Private Practitioners Association of Zimbabwe (MDPPAZ) president Dr Johannes Marisa, who said a medical threat to South Africa is a medical threat to Zimbabwe since a large number of our population lives in the neighbouring country.
“Zimbabwe stands as a higher risk of infection again. That is where were we have a lot of our people, with some crossing via Chikwalakwala and via Limpopo and in that process bringing mutant strains to Zimbabwe,” Dr Marisa said.
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