POLICE in Gwanda District have dispersed macimbi (mopane
worm) harvesters who had flocked to the area despite the prevailing 21-day
lockdown.
Scores of people from different areas had flocked to the
district and set up camps at various locations over the past two weeks in
search of mopane worms which are now in season.
Their presence was in violation of the lockdown order that
came into effect last week on Monday requiring people to stay home.
In an interview yesterday, Matabeleland South provincial
police spokesperson, Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele said they had managed to
disperse most of the crowds that had gathered in the district.
He said they would continue to monitor the areas to ensure
compliance.
“We received reports that people were now gathered in
search of mopane worms at a time when the President has announced a 21-day
lockdown. These people were even there during the time when large gatherings
had been banned. We went there last week as a team comprising the police, local
government, Ministry of Health and Gwanda RDC,” he said.
“We engaged these people and told them to disperse and they
complied. When we left most of them had gone and there were only a few left who
were looking for transport to take them back to their homes. So far, we haven’t
received another report but we will continue to monitor to ensure that we don’t
have people gathering to harvest mopane worms for any other reason as that is
against the law.”
Chief Insp Ndebele said they had also engaged plot holders
to ensure that they do not entertain people intending to harvest macimbi as
most of them had set up camps at their properties.
He said the majority of the people that had camped were
from areas in Masvingo province. He said they had set their camps in different
locations from Colleen Bawn Tollgate, West Nicholson right up to Makhado.
Gwanda District Development Coordinator, Ms Kiliboni Ndou
said they went to the camps as the District Civil Protection Unit response team
following reports from community members.
She said community members were concerned that the mopane
worm harvesters could cause the spread of Covid-19 as they were in transit and
were constantly in contact with a number of people.
Zanu-PF Matabeleland South provincial commissar, Cde Japhet
Dube is one of the community members who raised concern as some of the mopane
worm harvesters had set a camp on his farm.
“We are concerned as people from Gwanda as people coming
from other districts and provinces have invaded our area and they have set up
camps in search of mopane worms. Some of them have invaded my farm. With the
prevailing Covid-19 we fear that having these people gathered and flocking the
district will endanger us so could relevant authorities do something quickly,”
he said.
During this time of the year scores of people from various
districts flock to Gwanda and surrounding districts in search of mopane worms
for sale.
President Mnangagwa recently announced a 21-day lockdown
which is in its second week. During the period people have been ordered to
remain in their homes and shops that do not sell essentials have been ordered
to close. Chronicle
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