HARARE – President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Thursday directed that schools and universities should close on March 24 “as a precaution against the spread and outbreak of coronavirus.”
On March 17, Mnangagwa announced a raft of measures to lessen the impact of a potential outbreak of the highly contagious coronavirus including banning large gatherings as well as urging visitors from high risk countries to stay away.
Mnangagwa had, however, insisted schools would remain open until closing day on April 2, drawing criticism from the three main teachers’ unions who warned that he was endangering children and teaching staff.
In a statement on Thursday, Mnangagwa said he was reacting to “concerns from parents, as well as representations by the educational sector.”
The directive affects all schools, polytechnics, colleges and universities.
“While Zimbabwe has not recorded any cases of the virus to date, the government has thought it prudent to err on the side of caution, moreso in respect of teaching institutions where human concentration and contact is expectedly high,” Mnangagwa said.
Mnangagwa said the government would advise on dates for the re-opening of all learning institutions in the country “once the threat of the virus is adjudged to have receded.”
The coronavirus, first detected in China late last year, has brought the world to a standstill. Zimbabwe’s neighbours South Africa, Zambia, Namibia, the Kingdom of eSwatini and the DRC have all reported positive tests for the novel coronavirus, which causes a disease called Covid-19.
Early Thursday, the World Health Organisation said there were at least 633 confirmed coronavirus cases in 33 African countries, and 17 deaths.
