By Sukuoluhle Ndlovu
The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) has urged government to speed up the distribution of aid to vulnerable people who are struggling in the face of the global pandemic.
The human rights group continues to monitor the situation in the country during the national lockdown and has noted with concern how relevant authorities are delaying aid distribution.
Due to the ongoing lockdown more households have become food insecure as they cannot work.
In a statement, ZHRC said no aid has been distributed regardless of the fact that names had already been compiled.
“The government cash disbursement and other social protection mechanisms were noted as a welcome relief to most food insecure households who also lost their sources of livelihoods due to the current lock down. The commission is however concerned by the delays being experienced in the distribution of assistance to the registered beneficiaries.
“Although names of vulnerable persons had been compiled, there was no assistance that had been received on the ground at the time of releasing this statement.”
Government should take care of citizens during the national lockdown and increase the allowances promised to households.
“The government is urged to increase the number of households to benefit from the social protection programmes as vulnerability has increased throughout the country.
“The government of Zimbabwe should expedite the process of giving assistance to identified beneficiaries since a significant number of the targeted households are now in a dire situation.”
The human rights commission applauded government’s efforts evidenced by the introduction of subsidized mealie meal in urban and peri urban areas.
Citizens are urged to take precautionary measures in the fight of COVID – 19 which has claimed four people in the country.
“Citizens and other stakeholders should take head of the precautionary and preventative measures as stipulated by the Ministry of Health and Child Care. These include the mandatory wearing of masks in the public spaces and the avoidance of unnecessary travel,” said ZHRC.
ZHRC has deployed teams nationwide to monitor the human rights situation.
