The business community in Chiredzi District has been urged
to start producing personal protective equipment (PPEs) and sanitisers, along
the way creating employment opportunities for residents.
This was said by Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister
Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, who is the Covid-19 Inter-Ministerial Taskforce
deputy chairperson on Saturday during a tour of the district’s preparedness.
Chiredzi produces around 24 million litres of ethanol,
which is the key ingredient in the production of sanitisers.
Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said Covid-19 had caused
distress across the world and governments were battling to fight it, making it
necessary for the private sector to intervene.
“As you can see, there is pressure on the need for personal
protective equipment and sanitisers, among other things,” she said.
“You, the people of Chiredzi, have ethanol at your disposal
and you must make use of it in the production of sanitisers even for the export
market.”
Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said it was disturbing that
ethanol would be moved from Chiredzi to other towns, only for sanitisers to be
driven into the town for sale.
Unemployed citizens have been implored to be enterprising
and create opportunities for themselves and others, especially during moments
of crises. Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri commended Chiredzi residents for heeding
the lockdown standards.
“In Chiredzi, people are taking seriously the issue of
lockdown,” she said.
“They are in compliance with all the regulations that we
have put in place.
“We did not see any people roaming around; it was very
quiet. The only challenge I observed is that of vendors who are selling
vegetables who are not wearing protective clothing and they have no
sanitisers.”
The district isolation centres impressed Minister
Muchinguri-Kashiri, but she expressed concern over failure on train staffers on
time.
Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said nurses at the Chiredzi
Polyclinic were not trained, yet this was the port of call for many people.
Government also wants officials fighting Covid-19 from the
frontline to be protected, as this would result in the protection of patients
too. Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri was accompanied during the tour by Minister
for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira, health
officials and other stakeholders. Herald
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