By Nyashadzashe Ndoro | Nehanda Politics |
Opposition MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa says there is a need to decongest prisons as well as opening churches, “for a controlled number of people provided there is social distancing and masking”, as the country fights against the deadly coronavirus disease.
Chamisa said this during a national address where he talked more about how to contain the spread of Covid-19. Zimbabwe is on a national lockdown that was extended to February 15.
Churches meanwhile have been considered non-essential whereas Chamisa believes divine intervention was needed to fight Covid-19 hence there was need for the reopening of Churches.
“We must allow churches to open for a controlled number of people provided there is social distancing, masking and other Covid-19 protocols.
“To our bishops, pastors, the church body, intercessors and believers, we encourage you to continue to stand in the gap to pray for our nation,” he said.
“We must stand in prayer with those who have been affected by the pandemic. May the Holy Spirit comfort all the families who lost their loved ones.”
Chamisa added that there was a need to decongest prisons following reports that 72 inmates last week contracted Covid-19 at Mutimurefu Prison in Masvingo.
“Our prisons have become Covid-19 super spreaders, hot spots and zones. We need a plan to decongest them or put in place strict regimes of testing, screening, isolation and regular disinfecting.
“We must empty remand prisons except for very, very serious offences, and give amnesty to most prisoners.”
Last week, MDC Alliance national spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere tested positive for coronavirus two days after being released from jail.
She was facing charges of allegations of communicating falsehoods that a Harare based police officer reportedly killed a baby while attempting to beat the child’s mother with a button stick.
Two weeks ago, Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume was forced to self-isolate after two of his prison inmates tested positive for Covid-19. He was eventually released from prison on bail.
Chamisa said “studies have shown it is better to implement a short but effective lockdown rather than a prolonged lockdown as compliance with lockdown regulations goes down with a prolonged lockdown.
“The unavailability of social safety nets for the vulnerable, considering our heavily informal economy, means that people will be forced to breach lockdown regulations in search of food, water and money to cater for their families.
“This again reduces the effectiveness of the lockdown. We must be careful not to flatten the economy in our bid of flattening the curve.
“We face the risk of a lockdown induced poverty. Lockdowns are not meant to be permanent solutions, there is a need to create a lockdown exit strategy.”
As of Friday afternoon, Zimbabwe recorded 32,988 confirmed Covid-19 cases, 25,151 recoveries and 1,198 deaths. Nehanda Radio
#StayHome #SaveLives…. Denda iri harisi mu Zimbabwe 🇿🇼 chete asi kuti ratekeshera Pasi rino rose ☹️
Such a statement will make him popular amongst church leaders but will get people infected or worse. This is not the time to score cheap political goals, munopedza vanhu
pane varikumborapwa here zvakangofanana.
Knowledgee Kudzedzereka The less we gather, the more chance we stand of reducing infections
Michael MJ Gwarisa you nailed it , Zimbabweans are quite indisciplined , we say a limited number but you will find 500
Lonelyson Jeketera we are so used to gathering in our numbers
Lonelyson Jeketera unonzwa zvichinzi nhasi kuChurch kwanga kuchibhowa vanhu vange varivashoma!!
Sylvester Ndhlovu very disturbing
iwe duzvi mwana wa Mnangagwa ukwane,basa kupisika horo ya ED,zi sasikamu,unewo mukadzi here!?zikungochani
If your are in opposition in Zimbabwe, if you want the government to open churches, tell them Not to… https://t.co/781SGYCGzt
Chokwadi regai tifire kumachechi edu,God will save us sezvaarikutoita now,no hospitals,no tests nothing,only lockdown
Kuda kuti vanhu vaungane kumashrine vachitorerwa mari nemaporofita
Rubbish. Prisons no we can’t do that you idiot. You want our streets to be full of your thugs and criminals.
Decongestion of prisons is directly related to increase in crime…
Shumba Nyamuzihwa havasi vese vanhu vari mujeri vanoba and vanoba vacho vamwe vakatodzidza havachabe, remember vamwe vanopinda mujeri ne ka mistake kadiki chaiko
Arikutaura akamira sani kkkk ngaaende anobudisa vasungwa vacho.
So this is the MOST imp thing 2 come out of this speech
Mmmmmmmm Inga!
PamaChurch bodo Nero, dai wati zvikoro.
Mmmmmm mavakurasika vakuru we need to avoid mass gathering regardless……
Saka ndomunhu wamunochemera kuti aite President here uyo? Ndiyo nzira yeku campaigner nayo here Chamisa? Usatora advantage yokuti kune Coronavairus because campaigning yako inouraisa vanhu. Unoda kupedzesa vanhu?
Ummmmm ndosaka ndochiti zvimwe zvinoda advicer ane njere…
One amongst the bad ideas for this fellow zimbanwean!
Decongesting prisons is promoting crime ,opening of churches is the same as opening of bars and night clubs , the more people gather , infections rise , the best fight against this pandemic is to avoid gatherings , some statements from these politicians are illinformed , sometimes better to keep quiet than to seek cheap
Relevance .
Collen Tafireyi I don’t know why he wants churches to open only, what about mosques,Buddhist altars and other shrines . Someone going for a political position must not be narrow minded on one religion. The moment churches are allowed to open those with bars they fight for the same to happen in their industries.
We need consider his sentimental judgement first before commenting guys
Fantan Mangoma I think he is offside on that one.
Nyika ndeya jehovha nekuzara kwayo so vanhu vanofanira kutsvaga mwari ndiye murapi wezvigwere pasina iye Corona inokusvasvanga chero uri kumba ikoko this virus is spritualy so chamisa is right vanhu ngavapiwe mkana wekunamata mwari
What a nice comedy, hazvitarisirwe kutaurwa nemunhu ano claimer to know it all izvi, if you really care nevanhu, hautauri madhaka akadaro, ofcoz pple miss church a lot, but zvako zvokuda kuti vanaChin’ona nanaMahere vazare muma streets izvo wangozvitauravo zvako sezvo uchiziva kuti chero ukasura vanhu vanokurovera mavoko, but pa covid apa haaa hazvingadaro sir
Uyuwo chinhu 1 chichamutadxisa kutongaa religion n politics dont mix
Only those who thnk Lockdown is bigger thn God . Wl blm him fo cryng out of opnng of chrchs. Let chchs open . We wnt to hr wat God is sayng to his pple nd let those who thr hope is on God wrship him . Nd let those who thr hop is on lockdown be locked tll Jesus comes
So God will only the prayers only when we pray in the church
If you still need a building in the name of church to worship then you’re not intouch with your God
Church why,it cant do you really see how it goes ,the more pple gather the more the risks of spreading
Vanomama chete vana pahoro ,tazopuhwa data