Hundreds of inmates at Chikurubi Maximum Prison are reportedly not aware of their COVID-19 status despite staying in huge numbers.
The revelation comes at a time when the government is encouraging social distancing and testing for the virus.
Just recently, MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere tested positive to COVID-19 when she came out of the prison.
People like Hopewell Chin’ono have tried in vain to demand that the prison be fumigated.
In an interview, Zengeza West legislator Job Sikhala told Q Dube on Take Down that people are not tested at the prison.
“No one knows the situation because they are not tests that are being done on the inmates. No inmate knows his or her own status at Chikurubi Maximum Prison.
“The general inmates at Chikurubi don’t know their status because there are no tests at all that is being done on them,” he said.
Govt has duty to test every citizen
The government has generally struggled with the issue of testing people for COVID-19.
It wasn’t until recently that public clinics started providing COVID-19 tests for free. Before that people had to part company with about US$60 at private laboratories.
That resulted in many people failing to get tested and the situation was even worse in rural areas.
Most private laboratories that are offering the service only operate from towns especially in Harare and Bulawayo.
According to Honourable Sikhala, it is the duty of the sitting government to ensure its citizens are tested including inmates.
“Its the duty of the government to make sure that everyone is tested and their status is known.
“It is the responsibility of the government to take the challenge and make sure that inmates in all prisons are tested.
“We cannot leave it to chance because this disease is dangerous and you know when you catch it you are in big trouble,” he said. Get more Covid-19 Stats from CovidZW.info #OpenCovidContracts #WhereAreOurVaccinesZW
No one knows their COVID-19 status at Chikurubi
