There will be no public gatherings in celebrating the country’s 41st Independence anniversary on 18 April, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said.
In an interview at State House in Harare on Saturday, President Mnangagwa appealed to the nation to uphold the measures put in place by Government and the World Health Organisation’s COVID-19 protocols. He said:
Whereas I would love to see our population revelling day and night celebrating this freedom, this independence which gives our people dignity and self-determination, but because of the Covid-19 conditions, I appeal to our people to restrain from massive gatherings. Let them observe the measures we have put in place.
The WHO protocols must be observed. For instance, just now as a result of this Easter that has passed again, there is a spike in cases.
I would not encourage our people to assemble in huge groups, let us take these measures and preserve the lives of ourselves, our beloved ones and everyone’s life.
It is important. Enjoying ourselves will always be there when the time is correct when the time is suitable for us to do so.
This comes as Zimbabwe has registered a spike in new coronavirus infections in recent days, with the majority of the cases reported at Sacred Heart Girls High School located in Matabeleland South.