Coronavirus in Zimbabwe: resumption of mining and tobacco activity despite containment

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Zimbabwe has announced an extension of containment due to the Coronavirus epidemic. Head of State Emmerson Mnangagwa said on Sunday April 19 that the confinement, in place since March 30, would be 15 days, until May 3. Despite this confinement, the Head of State also announced the reopening of certain sectors of the economy, notably mines.

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For the moment, the country has officially registered only 25 cases of Covid 19 including 3 deaths but many doctors fear that these figures are far below the reality. Despite the confinement, the head of state also announced the reopening of certain sectors of the economy, while the country is facing a major economic crisis.

The mining sector and the tobacco industry will thus be able to resume their activity.

"  It was a difficult decision to make,  " said President Emmerson Mnangagwa. "  We took it reluctantly, but the government is aware of the need to maintain economic activity,  " he added.

These two sectors represent the main source of foreign exchange for Zimbabwe, about 4 billion dollars per year.

The platinum, diamond and gold mines are expected to reopen in the coming days.

"  All workers will have to be tested beforehand by their employers,  " said the head of state, that is, according to the chamber of mines, 40,000 people.

The annual Tobacco auction which was to take place last month will also take place in the coming days. Zimbabwe is the biggest tobacco producer on the continent, with 250,000 tonnes produced last year.

The Head of State also authorized a partial recovery of the manufacturing sector requested by the Confederation of Zimbabwean Industries, in order to save an already bad sector.

Following this, civil society and doctors are worried. How to contain the spread of the virus if tens of thousands of people return to work, after only three weeks of confinement?

► Read also: Containment in Zimbabwe: the population threatened by great precariousness

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• Zimbabwe
• Coronavirus