LANDS, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement
Deputy Minister Cde Vangelis Peter Haritatos who was recently on self-isolation
after testing positive to Covid-19, has returned to work after recovering from
the deadly disease.
Covid-19 has so far claimed more than 800 000 lives
globally and infected more than 23 million people while more than 14 million
have recovered. Zimbabwe has recorded more than 5 800 cases and 153 deaths and
4 629 people have recovered.
He tested positive for Covid-19 after being in contact with
his former boss, the late Air Chief Marshal Perrance Shiri (Rtd) who succumbed
to the Covid-19 virus last month.
Cde Haritatos, who tested negative three weeks ago, on
Friday took to social media and shared his experience.
He narrated how the past few weeks had been the toughest in
his life.
Cde Haritatos paid tribute to God for sparing his life and
thanked his family for the support they gave him during the trying time. To
fight the virus, he said he took Zithromax, Vitamins B, C and D and Zinc.
Cde Haritatos said despite following the Government and
World Health Organisation (WHO) health guidelines, he made one mistake, which
ultimately resulted in him contracting the virus.
Cde Haritatos said upon contracting the virus, he felt like
something “evil” had entered his body.
“The coronavirus is real. The last few weeks have been the
toughest in my life, I thank God for saving me and giving me the strength to
fight an evil virus that has ravaged the world over,” he said.
“It was not an easy fight to overcome, but I thank God for
blessing me with the family that I have. My beautiful wife and pillar of
strength nursed me from the start. She ensured that I ate, took my medication,
continuously hydrated, and most importantly that I stayed in a positive state
of mind.”
He paid tribute to his children, parents, in-laws and
siblings for supporting him when he needed it most.
Cde Haritatos said after President Mnangagwa announced that
the late national hero Air Chief Marshal Shiri (Rtd) had succumbed to Covid-19,
he decided to put himself into self-isolation for the safety and security of
his colleagues and family.
“Sadly, I too tested positive for the Covid-19 virus. This
virus is real and we need to fight it by following the guidelines that our
Government has given us which is in line with the WHO regulations. I followed
everything to the comma and full stop, but I made one mistake, and that one
mistake resulted in me contracting the virus,” he said.
Cde Haritatos urged the generality of the people to adhere
to stipulated regulations and measures put in place by Government to contain
the spread of the deadly virus.
“Do not take off your mask when talking to people
regardless of who they are. Protect yourself, protect your family, protect your
friends, protect your colleagues, protect us all and help stop the spread of
Covid-19. All it takes is one simple mistake, so you should be extra careful
and do not take anything for granted. Before I got sick, I heard the saying
that treat everyone as a potential threat, and that is exactly the case when it
comes to this deadly virus,” he said.
“I knew that my work on earth was not complete. I knew that
I still had to serve my people, fulfil my national duty, and make the
difference through the mandate that was given to me. At 34 I still have a whole
life to live, and I still have many years ahead of me to make a difference in this
world, more importantly for our beautiful country.”
Cde Haritatos said his 76-year-old father continued to run
family businesses alongside his supportive mother without challenges.
The MP for Muzvezve in Mashonaland West, said during
self-isolation, he relied on his dependable constituency co-ordinator to take
care of all constituency issues.
“I remember messaging my co-ordinator to tell him the bad
news, my message started with ‘please do not worry, but unfortunately, I have
tested positive for Covid-19,’” he said.
“Our family doctor was truly unbelievable. I owe him my
life. I am truly blessed to have the most amazing people around me. I prayed
hard sometimes several times a day and my prayers were not so much for me,
although when I did, I prayed for the strength to fight this virus.”
Cde Haritatos said he also prayed to God so that his family
and those who had come into contact with him while he was infectious did not
contract the virus.
“I am so grateful to the Almighty, not one of my family members
tested positive. You may ask why I didn’t pray so much for myself, and this is
because I knew that my work on earth was not complete,” he said. Chronicle
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