Parliamentary business in Zimbabwe was suspended after two members of parliament tested positive for COVID-19.
Parliamentary Clerk Kenneth Chokuda confirmed that a driver and a journalist who were with the legislators also tested positive. He said that the two MPs were part of a team conducting field visits around the country.
Chokuda, however, did not disclose who the two legislators were or which parts of the country they had visited.
“It is with a heavy heart that parliament announces the suspension of most of its business due to exposure of some Members of Parliament to COVID-19,” Chokuda said.
“Consequently, tomorrow’s sitting for the National Assembly will be done with very limited numbers for the sole purpose of adjourning to a future date,’ he added.
All people who were part of the team went into self-quarantine in line with the Health ministry’s regulations, Chokuda said noting that other measures were being taken to ensure the safety of other lawmakers and staff.
“This will allow for the deep cleaning and disinfection of the Parliament building and contact tracing and testing of those who came into contact with the affected members of parliament.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the affected and their families,” Chokuda said.
Last week, President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced the imposition of a dusk to dawn curfew to combat the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic which has ravaged its neighbour South Africa.
The government also ordered that only civil servants providing essential services to report for work and closed down a university.
Zimbabwe has so far registered 2,512 confirmed cases, and 34 fatalities and 518 recoveries from the deadly virus.
