WORKERS that commute between Harare and its dormitory town, Chitungwiza, will be affected as the government has banned travel between the two places as Covid-19 cases continue to surge in the country.
The government, in a statement, clarified that the recently announced extended level 4 lockdown by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, which included a ban on intercity travelling, covers both travels between Chitungwiza and Harare as well as Harare and Norton.
Nick Mangwana, the Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, said in a statement, travelling between Harare and Chitungwiza and any intercity expeditions only applies to those providing essential services.
“Government has noted with concern that despite the ban on intercity travel, some people are still travelling between cities for various non-essential reasons. This has resulted in a worrying surge in Covid-19 cases in the country,” Mangwana said.
“The public is reminded that under the extended Level 4 Lockdown announced by His Excellency on 13 July 2021, intercity travel is prohibited.
“As an example, movement between Chitungwiza and Harare or Norton and Harare is considered intercity travel and therefore prohibited”, added Mangwana.
The government’s latest blanket statement will cause confusion as Chitungwiza is home to over a million people, the majority of whom work or do their business in Harare every day.
Due to a significant housing backlog in Harare with the city failing to provide stands for those on the waiting list, many had to find stands and built houses in places like Norton, Chitungwiza, Ruwa, Goromonzi and as far as Beatrice but continue to commute or drive to Harare for work every day. Many don’t fall into the category of essential services but have to eke their living by working in Harare.
