Covid-19: Zimbabwe buries three senior officials at once
Zimbabwe’s Vice President Constantino Chiwenga on Wednesday officiated the historic triple burial of three senior officials who succumbed to COVID-19 last week.
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Sibusiso Moyo, Transport Minister Joel Biggie Matiza and former prisons chief Paradzai Zimondi were laid to rest at the National Heroes Acre in the capital Harare.
Moyo, 61, died last Wednesday, while Matiza and Zimondi both died on Friday.
The three were veterans of the liberation struggle who fought for Zimbabwe’s independence from British colonial rule in the 1970s.
Their burial follows the double burial last week of Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Ellen Gwaradzimba and veteran nationalist Morton Malianga who also succumbed to Covid-19 related complications.
The burial ceremony was conducted under strict World Health Organisation safety guidelines, with all attendees required to be tested for Covid-19.
Zimbabwe’s Health Minister Chiwenga said the government was in the process of securing Covid-19 vaccines for the country as it intensifies the fight against the pandemic.
Zimbabwe has seen a spike in COVID-19 infections and fatalities since the start of the year. 32,004 cases have been recorded to date, including 1,103 deaths.
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Olajumoke Adeleke
