Lessons from the lockdown The pandemic has also increased inequality in access to education in many African countries, the report showed.

Collen Takaza

University of Zimbabwe

There are a myriad of differences and lessons emerging from the second lockdown — the first in 2021 as compared to the one we had in 2020.

Zimbabwe is currently under a Covid-19 induced lockdown which commenced on January 5, 2021 and shall end on February 15, 2021.

This lockdown was necessitated by the escalating figures of Covid-19 infections and deaths in Zimbabwe.

While the 2020 lockdown was new to the Zimbabweans, the current one did not come as a surprise as they expected it when cases began to rise again at the start of this year.

The major differences that exist between these two lockdowns include the way people are conducting their shopping in their localities.

When the lockdown was announced in 2020, there was panic-buying as people sought to beef up their food stocks, not knowing how everything would end.

This allowed excessive profiteering from service providers such as those who sold gas which went up in some instances to US$4 a kg from around US$1,20 a kg. In the current situation, there is no such panic acquisition of gas or panic buying of foodstuffs.

Whilst, in the 2020 lockdown most minor grocery shops could not open freely even though given the green light, this year most of them including tuck shops within the neighbourhood are operating freely.

This has drastically reduced pressure on the major supermarkets where queues punctuated each day during the previous lockdown. As observed by this writer in the Glen Norah area, no serious queues are being experienced at Glen Norah B OK Supermarket and other supermarkets around the suburb.

This is basically a sign that residents are freely accessing supermarkets and vegetable stalls even beyond the prescribed time frame of 3pm.

While most grocery shops are closing at 3pm, tuck shops are operating even into the late hours. The two pharmacies at Chitubu Shopping Centre were operating just beyond the approved hours.

The other notable and critical dissimilarity that exists between the first and the second lockdown is the presence of security forces on the streets.

The first lockdown had a heavy presence of law-enforcement agents on the streets and high-density suburbs, a thing which we are not seeing under the current lockdown.

Observations indicate that no soldiers are being seen at shopping centres and in the streets in the Glen Norah area for the purpose of enforcing the lockdown.

The presence of police officers is also limited and not causing panic among shoppers, residents and business owners within the high-density area.

The few police officers on patrols during the day at Glen Norah’s Chitubu Shopping Centre have not been chasing people around.

Vendors have also continued to sell their wares without much disturbance.

In an interview with people at the shopping centre, many of them said the police officers sometimes demanded bribes in order to allow them to operate freely.

The first lockdown saw most churches defying orders not to gather, something which they are not doing now. Most churches are closed and observing the lockdown regulations.

There is a need for the government through the Ministry of Health and Childcare to continue with the awareness campaigns on the existence of Covid-19, especially in the high-density areas.

The increased presence of law-enforcement agents is necessary to quell indiscipline and non-compliance with lockdown rules.

Even though some of the people are warming up to the reality of Covid-19, many in the high-density areas seem to find it difficult to change their perception concerning the Covid-19 pandemic.

Their vulnerability remains high as they gather in large numbers at funerals and at shopping centres with the majority of them wearing masks improperly, and some none at all.

There is also evidence that quite a number of people putting on the same mask over a number of days, inclusive of disposable masks that should be worn at the most for one day and immediately be disposed of.

Mrs Chengaose Mutize, who is a graduate of Calvary University, observes that poverty is the leading cause for not respecting the Covid-19 restrictions in the high-density areas.

“Most people in the high-density suburbs such as here in Glen Norah live below the poverty datum line and survive on ventures that operate from hand to mouth. Most of them are in the informal sector.

“It is thus difficult for them to stay indoors when they have nothing to put on the table. I personally urge the Government to provide foodstuffs to the needy people for them to stay home.

“Many are risking their health going out in the streets in an endeavour to eke out a living,” she said.

Poverty is critical in explaining why most people in the high-density areas wear dirty and overused face masks or are unable to afford any at all.

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