News24
16 Sep 2020, 01:10 GMT+10
Zimbabwe on Tuesday lifted a ban on inter-city travel and extended working hours as the government gradually re-opens the economy by easing Covid-19 restrictions.
The Southern African nation went into a lockdown in March and President Emmerson Mnangagwa later imposed an overnight curfew to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
The pandemic has battered Zimbabwe, which was already reeling under hyperinflation and a looming scarcity of basic amenities, before the pandemic struck. The country of 14 million people has seen 7 531 cases and 224 deaths so far, according to a Reuters tally.
The cabinet approved the "resumption of inter-city travel to facilitate the smooth movement of examination candidates, citizens and visitors," information minister Monica Mutsvangwa told reporters.
The government has extended business hours by two hours to close at 18.30, she said.
"Despite the measures taken today to further open up the economy, the threat from Covid-19 is still real and citizens should continue to religiously adhere to the Covid-19 containment measures," said Mutsvangwa.
The central registry would be re-opened, Mutsvangwa said, to allow citizens to access births and death certificates and passports while authorities would also start to issue work permits and visas.
Students, who were to write their final end of year examinations, also started returning to schools from Tuesday.
The government last week allowed the resumption of domestic flights, which would be followed by international flights next month in a bid to boost tourism.
Get a daily dose of Zimbabwe Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Zimbabwe Star.
More InformationIn the past month alone, 23 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza—three more than the number of remaining living hostages held...
LONDON, U.K.: At least 13 people are believed to have taken their own lives as a result of the U.K.'s Post Office scandal, in which...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Travelers at U.S. airports will no longer need to remove their shoes during security screenings, Department of Homeland...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: An elaborate impersonation scheme involving artificial intelligence targeted senior U.S. and foreign officials in...
SLUBICE, Poland: Poland reinstated border controls with Germany and Lithuania on July 7, following Germany's earlier reintroduction...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: After months of warnings from former federal officials and weather experts, the deadly flash floods that struck the...
New Delhi [India], July 11 (ANI): England batter Jason Roy has been announced as replacement for Faf du Plessis in the Hundred at Southern...
Emmanuel Gonquoi has accused the US of repackaging colonial-era policies under the guise of economic partnership US President Donald...
Emmanuel Gonquoi has accused the US of repackaging colonial-era policies under the guise of economic partnership ...
New Delhi [India], July 11 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will distribute more than 51,000 appointment letters to newly appointed...
The president claimed recent strikes in Iran were evidence of the reliability of American-made weapons US President Donald Trump...
New Delhi [India], July 11 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Praveen Khandelwal criticised the comments made Punjab Chief Minister...