AN estimated 100 homeless people in Harare have been moved
to centres on the outskirts of the city as part of measures to contain the
spread of the Covid-19 pandemic by ensuring this highly vulnerable group has
shelter.
The people are being accommodated in Mt Hampden, Ruwa
Rehabilitation Centre and Jamaica Inn.
Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting
Services Mr Nick Mangwana confirmed the development on his twitter handle.
“As part of social protection of the vulnerable, Government
through the Department of Social Services, moved hundreds of homeless males to
Mt Hampden, dozens of boys living and working on the streets to Ruwa
Rehabilitation Centre and females are accommodated at Jamaica Inn during the
lockdown,” Mr Mangwana said.
The relocation of the homeless people is part of measures
that have been adopted by Government to mitigate the plight of vulnerable
groups.
Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Professor
Paul Mavima also confirmed the development, adding that the homeless were at
high risk of contracting Covid-19 since they lack sanitary resources required
to fight the devastating disease.
“In Harare, we have established three centres where we are
housing these homeless people so that they have somewhere they can call a
home,” he said.
“We have identified a training institute for the Ministry
of Youth in Mount Hampden where we have moved in those who are in families. At
Ruwa Rehabilitation Centre we have taken in boys who are below 18.
“At Jamaica Inn along Mutare Road, we have taken in women
above 18 and we are also going to put in girls. So, we have about 42 going to
the boy’s facility, 45 coming in as families and six women at Jamaica Inn.”
Prof Mavima had told the Department of Social Welfare to
look for more such facilities across the country to house the homeless.
The ministry was using its current budget, but would need
more funding from Government since Covid-19 is a national health emergency.
Blankets, clothing and mattresses for the shelter homes are
available and more are expected from the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra).
Prohibited and smuggled goods, including blankets, are seized by Zimra and can
be disposed of by auction or any approved way.
Said Prof Mavima: “We are taking the homeless people from
the streets in the fight against Covid-19. We are doing something. We are using
funds from our current budget and I know we will get something from Treasury
soon since this is a national disaster. Homeless people in Bulawayo, Gweru,
Mutare and across the country should be placed in shelters where they can be
monitored.”
Government has set aside over $600 million to cover one
million vulnerable households under a cash transfer programme for the next
three months. The funds will be distributed through the structures of the
Department of Social Welfare.
Treasury has also provided $500 million to fight Covid-19
and is ready to attend to more requests.
A further $50 million was provided to Premier Service
Medical Aid Society (PSMAS) to prepare for Covid-19 and to cater for the health
requirements of civil servants who are the majority of the Society’’s members.
To enhance preparedness to fight coronavirus and guided by
the United Nations Covid-19 Medical Supplies, Treasury has suspended duty and
tax on various goods and services related to testing, protection,
sterilisation, and other medical consumables.
Government has also unfrozen over 4 000 health sector posts
and created an additional 200 medical
posts with a view of scaling up the response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Covid-19 National Disaster Fund has also been
established to enable well-wishers donate towards the fight against the
disease. Herald
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