A staggering number of people running over 105,000 have been arrested in Zimbabwe since March for violating regulations aimed at curbing the spread of coronavirus, police have disclosed.
Around 1,000 were arrested within the last two days for “unnecessary movement” or for not wearing face masks, they further detailed.
Restrictions have been eased slightly in the country, where more than 1,500 infections have been confirmed.
However, critics are also accusing the ruling government of using the measures to target the opposition and arrest activists, which it denies.
Emerging information suggests that opposition and civil society groups are mobilizing for nationwide protests on 31 July to demand that President Emmerson Mnangagwa step down.
Under current regulations, all Zimbabweans returning from abroad are required to remain in quarantine for three weeks at a government-approved facility.
Per what the police are saying, a total of 276 people had fled quarantine centres, including some who had tested positive.
Almost 30 of them had been arrested, and would be taken to court for exposing their families and communities to the virus, police added. They included two men who had infected seven members of a family, state television reported.
Police say they intend to step up efforts to enforce regulations arguing that many people have become complacent.
All drinking dens had opened and “beer-drinking binges” were being held in backyards, police said. “We’ll be arresting all these violators,” spokesman Paul Nyathi was quoted by state television as saying.
Source; BBC
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