Zimbabwe Parliament suspended after 2 MPs contract Covid-19
What you need to know:
- Speaker Jacob Mudenda on Monday said the two MPs were part of a committee that visited the city of Gweru, south west of the capital Harare.
- President Emmerson Mnangagwa last week imposed a dusk to dawn curfew to arrest the surge in infections.
Zimbabwe's Parliament has suspended its operations after two legislators tested positive for Covid-19.
Speaker Jacob Mudenda on Monday said the two MPs were part of a committee that visited the city of Gweru, south west of the capital Harare.
A bus driver and a journalist, who accompanied them on the trip last week, also tested positive for the disease.
"The suspension of business will allow us to deep-clean and disinfect the building while also guaranteeing the safety of members, staff and the public, who interface with the institution," Mr Mudenda said in a notice.
RISING CASES
The southern African country has been recording a spike in coronavirus cases and deaths.
Cases have more than doubled in a little over a week to 2,512 as of Sunday, with 34 deaths.
A fortnight ago, Zimbabwe halted the re-opening of schools closed since March due to the pandemic.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa last week imposed a dusk to dawn curfew to arrest the surge in infections.
The government also reintroduced tighter controls on business operations and ordered the unemployed to stay at home.
AILING SYSTEM
Experts say Zimbabwe's response to Covid-19 is hampered by an ailing health delivery system.
Health workers, including nurses, have been on strike for over a month, demanding salaries in foreign currency as the re-introduced Zimbabwe dollar continues to lose value.
Senior doctors are expected to join the strike this week while their juniors have a two-week notice to down tools in protest against poor pay and lack of personal protective equipment.
