SOME property owners in Victoria Falls are reportedly
evicting their tenants to decongest their houses for fear of spreading
COVID-19.
Panic has gripped the resort town after information
circulated that a tourist from the United Kingdom, who stayed in the town’s
lodges tested positive for COVID-19 on his return home.
That led to the closure of many hotels and lodges and
stoppage of tourist activities for fear of the spread of the highly-infectious
disease.
Tenants, mostly tourism employees in the resort town’s
high-density suburbs, said they had been advised to vacate their lodgings
before the lockdown today.
Hwange West legislator Godfrey Dube (MDC Alliance)
confirmed the development and appealed to landlords to stop being
discriminatory.
“My fellow citizens, residents, landlords, may I humbly
make a passionate appeal to you. You are very much aware that we are faced with
this COVID-19 pandemic in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe and globally which has no
barriers,” he said.
“I note with concern that some property owners are already
chasing tenants out of their homes. It is a fact that the properties are yours.
You worked so hard to build those houses, neither myself nor the government
donated a cent, but please, I humbly appeal and beg that you negotiate with
your tenants and reach a solution in terms of payment. We need each other, we
are one family.
“Let’s fight this COVID-19 together, it shall come to pass.
Don’t chase anyone from your home. I humbly appeal as your leader.”
This comes barely a week after Employers Association of
Tourism and Safari Operators president Clement Mukwasi expressed concern over
the slump of business in Victoria Falls following the outbreak of the disease.
“Coronavirus, or COVID-19, has gutted the Zimbabwe tourism
industry. Hotels and activities are recording zero arrivals. Multitudes are
getting their last salaries in March and the future is bleak. It’s hoped that
the pandemic will find a medical solution quickly or else tourism’s facilities
will turn into ruins,” he lamented.
Zimbabwe has recorded seven cases and one death and
government has imposed a 21-day lockdown starting today to contain the spread
of the disease. Newsday
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