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Blessings Chidakwa Municipal Correspondent
HARARE City Council has started producing face masks for its workers and the external market to complement Government’s fight against Covid-19.

The masks are be being produced at a temporary factory at the Department of Housing and Community Services in Mbare.

Government recently gazetted legislation that makes the wearing of face masks mandatory in public places.

The local authority announced the development in a statement issued yesterday, after its Covid-19 response team toured the production plant.

“The city has since set up an interdepartmental team to spearhead the project which is aimed at producing protective clothing for city employees and for sale outside council.

“In the long run, the city intends to upgrade its vocational training centres into factories for the city’s protective clothing and metal work requirements in a move that is expected to cut costs and ensure workers have the required attire. The factories would be modelled as strategic business units with capacity to sustain themselves under the Business Development Unit and reporting to the Director of Housing and Community Services.”

The move was, however, met with mixed reactions.

“Well done HCC. Partner with HIT/Universities and Chemplex to also produce water treatment chemicals as well so that we are self-reliant,” posted an anonymous writer on council’s Facebook page.

One Peter Shonge said: “The City of Harare kindly focus on service delivery and promote local manufacturing businesses of those masks. It helps grow the economy.”