The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has stated since the beginning of the national lockdown in March they have arrested close to 59 000 people for not wearing face masks in public.
In a report by The Herald, National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi urged members of the public to observe lockdown measures in order to stop the spread of the covid-19 pandemic.
The enforcement of these health, safety and security measures is still paramount. Police have noted that some members of the public are no longer wearing face masks, observing social distancing guidelines and sanitising.
Covid-19 is real and the public should avoid being complacent and should cooperate with law enforcement agencies to curb the spread of the pandemic. So far we have arrested a total of 58 981 people for not wearing face masks and we will continue arresting them so that the law will take its course since these people are posing a risk to others and the society, he said
However, all of the 58,981 offenders arrested were freed after they paid stipulated fines.
On Tuesday, during a post-cabinet briefing, the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Kazembe Kazembe told journalists that law enforcement agents will be taking stern measures against violators of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions.
No so-called high profile, middle profile, low profile or no profile person will be spared if caught on the wrong side of the law, Minister Kazemba said.
Under the current lockdown and curfew measures, recreational joints are still not allowed to operate, public gatherings and events are prohibited with the exception of weddings and churches where 50 and 100 people are permitted respectively.
Since the country recorded its first Covid-19 case in March, there have been 9 398 positive cases, 8 297 recoveries, and 274 deaths.-iharare
