ZMF statement on Coronavirus

Zimbabwe Miners Federation stands in solidarity with the world during this tragic time as millions of people across the world are faced with fear, uncertainty, and panic. I urge the Zimbabwean public at large specifically miners who are our concern to adhere to the hygiene practices put forward by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and our local Ministry of Health, although it appears the spread of Corona has been significantly slower to spread in our region this does not exempt us from taking the necessary precautions required to keep Corona from spreading across our Nation.

Corona known as COVID-19 is an infectious condition, which means it can be spread, directly or indirectly, from one person to another and primarily involves infection of your upper respiratory tract (nose, throat, airways, lungs)
first identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.

Let us observe the precautionary measures stipulated by WHO, such as social distancing, avoidance of large crowds and gatherings, avoidance of bars and restaurants, crowded retail stores, we urge miners to practice caution when
using public transport, visiting family and friends, avoid handshakes, please ensure that washing our hands becomes a priority, maintaining distance while talking to others, drinking lots of water, using Sanitisers and Sanitising surface areas around us. During this period we should seek to read, exercise, video call, and WhatsApp reflect and work in small numbers where possible or stay at home.

Should you fear contraction of the virus immediately contact your doctor and follow prescribed medication to help stabilize your condition as there is currently no known vaccination. Let us not rely on myths but on actual measures prescribed by the WHO and the designated Ministry of Health in our country as the world seeks to find a vaccine.

I urge all Miners across Zimbabwe to continue mining operations whilst adhering to the health measures suggested by government and call for quick action in the event someone is believed to have contracted the disease by visiting the nearest clinic and all those who have come into contact with the said person to also visit the clinic and undergo quarantine to help stop the spread of the virus.

We also implore the government to intervene on the issue of profiteering on sanitisers as it has become a necessity in helping to stop the spread of Coronavirus. We also seek government and donor assistance for the allocation of
medicines that assist with flue symptoms and pain relief in clinics located in the vicinity of large groups of miners, we also request donations of sanitisers and masks for our miners across the Nation.

As ZMF we are in prayer for all those quarantined and all of us to be kept safe from this deadly virus, Let us seek God’s grace to heal the world and keep us safe.