Parliament of Zimbabwe has suspended holding of committee meetings and public hearings as part of measures to curb spread of COVID-19.
The decision by Parliament comes just a few days after President Emmerson Mnangagwa imposed a semi-lockdown.
Unlike previous lockdowns, citizens are allowed to continue with their businesses but with limited time from 8am to 15:30 hrs.
Mnangagwa also declared a 6 to 6 curfew.
Announcing the development National Assembly, Speaker Jacob Mudenda said only urgent committee meetings can proceed but only on virtual platforms.
‘’I have to inform the House that following the announcement by His Excellency the President, Dr E. D. Mnangagwa on COVID-19 lockdown, all Committee workshops, public hearings and field visits have been suspended with immediate effect.
‘’In the event Committees have to hold urgent meetings, these should be conducted strictly on the virtual platform in order to comply with the guidelines on the prevention of the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
Zimbabwe which has been applauded for having a more progressive vaccination program has seen cases of COVID-19 going up.
Already the government has imposed stricter lockdowns in places that have been identified to be hot spots.
These places include, Kariba, Karoi, Kwekwe and Bulawayo among others.
Cases have also been on an increase in border towns such as Beitbridge.
Vaccines to be deployed to hot spots
Health Minister Constantino Chiwenga advised that doses of vaccines receive a few days ago will be deployed to hot spots.
Chiwenga also told Parliament that government wishes to have Harare and Bulawayo vaccinated the same way as Victoria Falls.
According to the government, Victoria Falls attained vaccination herd immunity. Zimbabwe has vaccinated over a million people with the first dose. Those who have received the second jab continue to increase also.
COVID-19 forces Parly to suspend committee meetings
