The government has approved a $200 once-off cushioning allowance for needy people in urban areas to mitigate the effects of the 21-day national lockdown.
This was announced on Tuesday by Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare minister Paul Mavima in a post-Cabinet media briefing in Harare. Said Mavima:
We are taking those really disadvantaged as a result of the lockdown, especially in urban areas. Our target is one million.
It will be $200 per individual, so if there are four people at a particular household, they will get $800.
The government has partnered with OneMoney, a mobile money transfer platform operated by a mobile network operator, NetOne to disburse the money to the beneficiaries.
Negotiations between the government and Telecash and EcoCash, mobile money platforms owned by Telecel Zimbabwe and Eocash Zimbabwe respectively, to rope them into the exercise are ongoing.
Mavima also revealed that homeless people in Harare were now being housed in different facilities that include Jamaica Inn, Mt Hampden and Beatrice Centre.