PHILLIMON MHLANGA
The Government of Zimbabwe has set up a coronavirus disaster fund to mitigate the immediate to long-term effects of the pandemic.
Finance and Economic Development Development Mthuli Ncube said government is targeting the public, private sector and development partners to contribute towards fighting the deadly disease also known as COVID-19, which has resulted in one death from eight positive cases.
The virus has forced businesses across the country to close under the 21-day nationwide lock down, which came into effect on Monday.
Movement of people is also restricted.
This could be devastating because Zimbabwe is highy informalised with many having turned to vending to eke out a living.
This means thousands of families and individuals are likely to experience severe challenges in the weeks and months ahead.
The disaster fund, however, might help put food on the table for some.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is undoubtedly very likely to be one of the worst natural disasters to befall our nation in recent times,” Ncube said.
He added:”Government has, in response, set aside significant resources towards efforts to mitigate the immediate, medium and long-term effects of this global pandemic on our people and the broader economy.
However, the scale and seriousness of this pandemic calls upon all of us as Zimbabweans to put our best foot forward and I therefore wish to call upon and implore all stakeholders that have the capacity and wish to assist in anyway to come forward with their contributions which can be in cash or kind.
In this regard, government has established a National Disaster Fund dedicated to receive and account for contributions from development partners and a wide spectrum of well-wishers and ring-fencing them for development to address and mitigate the effects of such adverse occurrences.”
