Category: zimbabwe

Zimbabwe banks close branches, suspend some services after first Covid-19 death

Source: Zimbabwe banks close branches, suspend some services after first Covid-19 death | Fin24 Several Zimbabwean banks have seen closures at some of their branches, while others are no longer accepting physical documents, as the southern African country ramps up preventive measures against the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Zimbabwe has so far confirmed two […]

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Source: Zimbabwe banks close branches, suspend some services after first Covid-19 death | Fin24

Several Zimbabwean banks have seen closures at some of their branches, while others are no longer accepting physical documents, as the southern African country ramps up preventive measures against the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Zimbabwe has so far confirmed two cases of Covid-19, with one having already succumbed to the virus.

Stanbic Bank, a unit of South Africa’s Standard Bank, was one of the first to announce preventive measures, telling customers on Monday that paper-based transactions would no longer be accepted.

“In the interest of public health, and with immediate effect, please be advised that we will only be accepting payments via Business Online.

“All other bank instructions and letters must be sent on email and accompanied by the attached email indemnity form, which must be completed and signed by the authorised signatories,” read a notice send to customers by the Bank.

Cabs, a subsidiary of Old Mutual Zimbabwe, announced similar measures, telling its customers that hard copy instructions would not be accepted until further notice.

“Due to the Covid-19 outbreak we shall not be accepting hard copy instructions, all communications and instructions are to be sent as soft copies going forward. We will advise once it becomes safe for us to accept hard copies,” read a note from Cabs.

Other banks are taking precautions further, with First Capital Bank (FCB), formerly Barclays Bank, temporarily closing at least four branches.

“To protect Clients & Staff from spread of Covid-19, we are reducing our Branch Network by temporarily closing Belmont,B/ Dale, Harare St, First St from 24/03/20,” read a note from FCB.

Stanbic also temporarily shut down its Victoria Falls and Hwange Branches, while Nedbank has announced the closure of six of its branches.

Zimbabwe’s first case of Covid-19 was recorded in the resort town of Victoria Falls, in the north-west of the country.

Head Corporate Affairs at Stanbic Bank, Palmer Mugavha, said the decision was testament to the fact that the bank would put human life “ahead of any potential to earn profit”.

President Mnangagwa has also announced measures to combat the pandemic, including the closure of bars and other entertainment establishments.

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Zimbabwe shuts borders after first coronavirus death

Source: Zimbabwe shuts borders after first coronavirus death – The Citizen Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Picture: Shepard Tozvireva / African News Agency (ANA) ‘We have decided to ban all non-essential traffic and travel, both inbound and outbound, except for the movement of cargo,’ President Emmerson Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe’s second coronavirus patient, a 30-year-old man, has […]

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Source: Zimbabwe shuts borders after first coronavirus death – The Citizen

Zimbabwe shuts borders after first coronavirus death

Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Picture: Shepard Tozvireva / African News Agency (ANA)

‘We have decided to ban all non-essential traffic and travel, both inbound and outbound, except for the movement of cargo,’ President Emmerson Mnangagwa said

Zimbabwe’s second coronavirus patient, a 30-year-old man, has died in the capital Harare, the government said on Monday, as borders were closed to curb the spread of infection.

Health Minister Obadiah Moyo “has confirmed the death of Zororo Makamba, who was the second person to test positive for COVID-19 in Zimbabwe,” his office said.

Makamba, a broadcaster and son of a business tycoon and politician, was confirmed positive with the virus on Saturday.

He had travelled to New York late last month and returned home on March 9, transiting through Johannesburg in neighbouring South Africa.

The government said he began showing mild flu-like symptoms on March 12 that progressively worsened. He consulted a doctor and was instructed to self-quarantine.

On Friday the country reported its first coronavirus case, a 38-year-old man who returned from Britain to his home in the tourist resort town of Victoria Falls.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced the closure of borders to human traffic on Monday as part of a new raft of measures to step up the country’s response to a pandemic that has hit more than 190 countries worldwide.

“We have decided to ban all non-essential traffic and travel, both inbound and outbound, except for the movement of cargo,” Mnangagwa said in a televised address to the nation.

He added that public gatherings of more than 50 people would be prohibited and encouraged residents to avoid in-country travel.

“Government has put a blanket ban on gatherings around nightclubs, bars, beer halls, swimming pools, gymnasiums and sporting activities until further notice,” Mnangagwa said.

Zimbabwe’s government previously ordered schools closed and cancelled public and sporting events.

It has also prohibited government officials from travelling outside the country, although Mnangagwa flew to Windhoek at the weekend to attend the inauguration of his Namibian counterpart Hage Geingob.

Zimbabwe’s public health system has been suffering for years from a lack of equipment and drugs and there are fears it will struggle to cope with the outbreak.

“The system… is overstretched and inadequate to deal with a coronavirus epidemic,” Norman Matara, secretary general of the Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights, said at the weekend.

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