Zimbabwe in Lockdown:
COVID-19 & Human Rights
from a community perspective
VOICES ON COVID19
During the entire month of April, the country was
under lockdown, and communities went through
uniquely peculiar experiences. ZPP was in constant
touch with the communities throughout the month to
understand true, lived experiences. This is because it
is from such experiences that comes out the reality of
the situation, far from the offices. Here is some of the
feedback that came from the communities. Here, they
express their fears, expectations and experiences.
GOD FOR US ALL
Mwari ndiye muridzi wevanhu hakusi kungwara
kwedu ngatiisei zvese kumusiki vakashaya neCovid
19 havaida; Charles paGokwe Centre.
TRANSLATION:Everyone belongs to God. No-one is
too clever, so let us leave everything to God and pay
tribute to those who died of COVID19 - Charles from
Gokwe Centre
LET’S BE PATIENT
Mugwele gopaladza mizi nebunji banu bedzimu
ayibekeleni tigadzane zwibanana kopinda ...ndiba
Talent kaByo KuMganwini Island
makhelwane
wonkulu uwo Mamlilo.
TRANSLATION: This disease is killing people, people
should be patient and stay in their houses. From Mai
Take kuBulawayo pa Island in Emganwini
WE’RE HUNGRY
Thina indlala sikhona lapha ekhaya sekunzima
besiphila ngokuthengisa njengoba sihlala
sisezindlini imali ayisekho lamasela ayasihlupha
kakhulu. ngu Alice eCowdry Park
TRANSLATION: We are now suffering from hunger
here. We were surviving on selling wares (vending),
but now that we are bound to our homes there is no
more money ... Alice from Cowdray Park (Bulawayo)
DIFFICULT TIMES
Mina nginguna Manu eGwabalanda ,mmmmh
ngalumkhuhlane usifake ebunzimeni shuwa mina
ngiyathengisa efleamarket ,kodwa sokuyikuwa
lokhu ,imali iyaphela siyidla everyday impilo yethu
isiguqukile besijayele ukuzisebenzela thina manje
sitshona sihlezi and izinto sezidula over.
REPORT
HUMAN RIGHTS
VIOLATIONS TO
+263 77 488 3406
+263 77 488 3417
TRANSLATION: From Manu in Gwabalanda . This
disease has brought great difficulties. I sell goods at a
flea market, but that is now being destroyed because
we are now spending the money daily. This has
changed our lives, we were used to working for
ourselves, but now spend the day sitting and goods
are now so very expensive.
COVID19 NOT A JOKE
Imi ndili imi Annacletar Ngwenya ndiliku Mganwini
ndobona kungati bugwele gogu akutozana
gwawobulaya sibili, kati ngono tikazama tebedzela
zwatinobudziwa nebezwibhedlela kan'ompela
nahulumente tingakunda. Ngobe kana imi ndobvuma
abatoleba beligele koga banozama nezila dzose kuti
bangagulapa tjini. Ngono tikadelela topalala.
TRANSLATION: My name is Annacleta Ngwenya, am
in eMganwini. This disease is not a joke, it kills, but if
we follow what health experts and the government tell
us it can spare us. They know, they are learned and
they research on how this disease can be cured. If
we don't listen we will perish
GIVE FOOD TO THE PEOPLE
Ndinonzi Phillemon Magabaza. Lockdown ikapera
vanhu ngatishande, asi tombomira kushanyirana
kana kufamba town to town. No buses. No privatecars. Asi chikafu nezvimwe ngazviende kuvanhu.
TRANSLATION: My name is Philemon Magabaza.
When the lockdown ends, we should work hard but
for now let us not visit each other or travel from one
town to another. No buses. No private cars. But food
must get to the people)
IMPROVE TESTING
Government should send Medical Practitioners to
borders to Test COVID19 on both immigrants &
emigrants and those with COVID19 should be denied
entry and government should not continue extending
the Lockdown further because in Zimbabwe weare
living on hand to mouth. Anon
PEOPLE ADHERING
Charles Natsakulaya kuno kuMbire District ndiripa
Chidodo Border, vanhu vakutambira kugarden
panzvimbo yekuswera kudoro.
TRANSLATION: Charles Natsakulaya from Mbire
District at Chidodo Border Post. Here, people are
spending time in the garden and not chasing after
beer)