Categories: Stories

Zimbabwe declares coronavirus a national disaster, bans public gatherings for next 60 days

Zimbabwe today declared the coronavirus pandemic a national disaster and has banned public gatherings of more than 100 people for the next 60 days.

It also postponed national independence celebrations scheduled for 18 April and the country’s prime trade show, the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair which was set for 21-25 April, as well as all sporting events.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa said resources that were meant for these national events will now be re-directed to strengthening the fight against the coronavirus pandemic and mitigating drought.

Zimbabwe is also discouraging unnecessary travel by government officials outside the country and non-essential travel to affected countries.

The ban on public gatherings of more than 100 people will affect several churches that hold massive Easter gatherings, will also affect proposed mass demonstrations by opposition political parties, as well as weddings.

 
https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/777714181

(177 VIEWS)

This post was last modified on March 17, 2020 5:15 pm

Charles Rukuni

The Insider is a political and business bulletin about Zimbabwe, edited by Charles Rukuni. Founded in 1990, it was a printed 12-page subscription only newsletter until 2003 when Zimbabwe's hyper-inflation made it impossible to continue printing.

Recent Posts

Zimbabwe third among the least free countries in SADC

Zimbabwe has been ranked third among the least free countries in Southern Africa but it…

May 24, 2026

Why I had a girlfriend two months after my wife’s death- Take 1

I had always considered it a curse for a wife to die before her husband.…

May 18, 2026

Why I had a girlfriend two months after my wife’s death

This is a true story about the challenges and loneliness I faced when my wife…

May 17, 2026

Coming soon

My first long-form article in booklet form: Why I had a girlfriend two months after…

May 16, 2026

Insider Publisher starts whatsapp channel

The editor and publisher of The Insider, Charles Rukuni, has started a whatsapp channel through…

May 15, 2026

Who propped whom: Masiyiwa vs Nyambirai?

A friend who knows about my legal battle with Zimbabwe’s richest man, Strive Masiyiwa, way…

May 1, 2026