ZIMBABWE: For the first time in its history, Zimbabwe has witnessed a triple burial of political figures at the National Heroes Acre. Zimbabwe’s government held a joint burial for Foreign Affairs Minister Retired General Sibusiso Moyo, Transport Minister Joe Biggie Matiza, and Former Chief Zimbabwe Prison Correctional Services Commissioner Paradzai Zimondi. The Cabinet now has lost four ministers to COVID-19. Public health experts have blamed Zimbabwe’s collapsed healthcare system for the deaths.
Officiating the burial, Acting President Constantino Chiwenga said that COVID-19 has taught that despite a person’s status everyone is mortal.
“It does not discriminate between the powerful and the weak, the haves and has not. One would expect that when tragedy strikes it will gradually abate but COVID-19 has fiercely continued to take lives. Only God knows when it will end,” he said.
However, Vice President Chiwenga who is also the Minister of Health advised people to continue to abide by COVID-19 regulations as the government is in the process of acquiring vaccines.
Last week, the country had also witnessed a double burial of Manicaland Minister of State and Devolution Ellen Gwaradzimba and Veteran Nationalist Morton Malianga.
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Addressing a State of Nation (SONA) on Saturday, President Mnangagwa said that all the resources will be channeled in fighting COVID-19 and no one will be left.
“COVID-19 is affecting everyone in the country, regardless of social standing, political affiliation, race, or ethnicity. We’re united in grief, there are no spectators, no adjudicators, no holier than thou, no superman or superwoman, we are all affected,” he said.
COVID-19 cases have seen a sudden surge in Zimbabwe. As of January 26, around 1122 deaths have been recorded. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe is under a one-month lockdown.
