By Lloyd Takawira
MDC Marondera Central legislator, Caston Matewu has called on the government to allocate risk allowances to police officers who are working during the 21day lockdown period.
In a letter addressed to the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Kazembe Kazembe, Matewu urged government emulate the health sector where workers are receiving risk allowances.
Like the health workers, the police are also at a greater risk of contracting COVID 19 as they’re reporting for duty and enforcing lockdown regulations.
To date, Zimbabwe has recorded 10 confirmed cases of the deadly virus and one death.
“I write this letter to you to consider giving our esteemed Police Officer risks allowance like what the health sector is doing. Our police officers are at the forefront in implementing the 21days shut down in term of SI 83 of 2020. I have observed how they patrol in overcrowded vehicles without protective clothes. The job puts them on great risk and therefore deserves to be allocated risk allowances.”
There has been public outcry over the contact of police officers who travel in hoards, ignoring social distancing and not wearing any protective equipment.
