SIMON MUNTEMBA Writes
GOVERNMENT should severely punish those abrogating prevention guidelines to send a strong warning to would be culprits, Chief Madzimawe of the Ngoni people of Kasenengwa District has said.
Chief Madzimawe attributed the escalating numbers of COVID-19 to arrogance by some people who do not want to adhere to simple health preventive measures.
“Here in my chiefdom, I expect everyone to mask up whenever they are out of their homes. I will sternly deal with those deliberately abrogating preventive measures because I wouldn’t like to see the pandemic being introduced here when we can avoid it,” he said.
In an interview, Chief Madzimawe said the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 would continue to rise if people do not follow the prevention guidelines provided by Government.
“It is saddening that the cases of COVID-19 has continued to escalate at a high rate. I think it is due to arrogance by some people who do not want to follow simple health guidelines that are given to us by the Ministry of Health. Government should just punish such people severely to send a strong message because we are talking about lives here,” Chief Madzimawe said.
He said some people were deliberately ignoring guidelines on prevention despite being aware of the disease.
Chief Madzimawe said the rate at which the country was recording new cases required the people to be responsible in safeguarding their lives and those of their families and neighbours.
He said a lot of sensitization was done in his Chiefdom about the pandemic and believed it was done across the country but expressed displeasure that people are not heeding the health guidelines.
The traditional leader however warned that he would not tolerate people in his chiefdom moving around without face masks.
And the Chief has called for close collaboration in the fight against the deadly Coronavirus saying the fight should not be left for Government alone.
He said there was need for close collaboration among stakeholders in fighting the pandemic.