Security forces have been accused of disrupting the economy
through the chaotic implementation of Covid-19 lockdown regulations after they
forced the closure of Bulawayo businesses without notice last week.
Armed soldiers and police last Tuesday forced people out of
Bulawayo’s central business district (CBD).
The following day they restricted entry into Kwekwe’s CBD,
amid claims by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesperson George Charamba that
a decision had been made to restrict people’s movement after authorities
received intelligence that the opposition was plotting protests.
There were also reports of police and soldiers manning
roadblocks restricting entry into Harare CBD, even for people that had
authorisation letters.
On June 17, the Employers’ Confederation of Zimbabwe (Emcoz)
wrote to Labour minister Paul Mavima complaining about the conduct of the
police and soldiers deployed to enforce the lockdown.
“This letter serves to express our concern as business with
respect to the disruption that is being caused to operations as a result of
actions of security forces at roadblocks and checkpoints particularly in urban
centres,” read the letter.
The letter, signed by Emcoz president Israel Murefu,
claimed police and soldiers had been turning away workers at roadblocks, forcing
business to close down.
“We wish to put it on record that the conduct of security
forces, which prima facie, do not appear to be in accordance with known
Covid-19 lockdown regulations, is causing serious disruptions to business
operations,” read the letter.
A recent survey by the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries
revealed that the Covid-19 pandemic is weighing down on Zimbabwe’s productive
sector, amid warnings that some manufacturing companies are on the brink of
collapse.
Low production and over-reliance on imports are haunting
the country’s economy and weighed down the local currency.
Murefu said the continued disruptions would have a negative
effect on the economy.
“You would be aware that both the minister of Finance (Muthuli
Ncube) and Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor (John Mangudya) are on record
making the observation that our biggest problem leading to the current poor
economic performance is lack of production or low utilisation,” the letter
added.
“The failure of workers to report for duty as well as the
failure of business to open in some urban centres as a result of workers
failing to report for duty is actually exacerbating the problem.”
Last month Mnangagwa extended the lockdown indefinitely,
but said informal businesses were now allowed to operate. Standard
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