The Government could have taken lessons from other
countries that have ensured their citizens do not go
hungry during the Lockdown. The deployment of security
forces to enforce the Lockdown needs to be closely
monitored considering that the same security forces
have unleashed violence in their previous deployments.
It is also unfortunate to note that the security officers are
executing their duties with no protective gear and are in
the process exposing themselves to contracting or
transmitting the virus.
Figure 4: A long queue of vehicles as LPG gas wholesalers defied
the lockdown and went about their business
The Corona virus also brought with it heightened human
rights violations, typical whenever Zimbabwe is faced
with a crisis. On 26 March 2020, some residents in
Kuwadzana and Highfields constituencies were assaulted
by anti-riot police officers (at nightclubs, bars and other
social spaces) following President Emmerson
Mnangagwa’s ban of public gatherings of more than 50
people. Reports confirm that city dwellers and vendors at
Figure 5: A screenshot from one of the videos featuring police
beating up civilians. The videos have since gone viral on social
media
Kuwadzana 4 shopping centre in
ward 28 were assaulted with batons
at around 1930hrs while revellers at
Gazaland were assaulted at about
8pm. Many vendors reportedly lost
their wares and some escaped with
serious
injuries.
The
police
(estimated number of 50) who were
dispersing people at the shopping
centre ended up confiscating vendor
wares.
Figure 6: A police officer speaking to citizens and he has no protective clothing Pic: twitter.com
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