Zimbabweans ignore stay-away calls, claims ZBC

As expected, ZBC decided to turn a blind eye on the protests and they viewed it differently. In its report, ZBC insinuates that all business was normal through out the country.

Below is its reportage on 'Zimbabwe shutdown.'

There was calm in most parts of the country as people reacted differently to calls for a stay away today.

The majority of civil servants ignored the stay away calls and despite low human and vehicle traffic in Harare and Bulawayo in the early hours, the situation changed by mid-day as people were going about their business as usual.

In the central business district (CBD), some banks, big supermarkets and some grocery shops were operational while most furniture, clothes and departmental retailers were closed.

Some commuter operators in Harare said business was low in the early hours of the morning especially in high density suburbs.

The Coventry holding bay was empty as most commuter omnibuses were ranked at Fourth street, Copacabana, Market Square and Charge Office bus termini.

The situation did not however improve much in Bulawayo as commuter bus operators withdraw services, while informal traders were also not at work.

The Egodini bus terminus was almost empty and some roads in Pumula and Nkulumane were barricaded using stones but police moved in to clear the stones for easy movement of the traffic.

There was hesitancy by the public to comment on the situation.

Some people in high density suburbs of Harare and Bulawayo said they wanted to go to work but faced transport problems as there were few vehicles on the road charging between US$1,50 to US$2 one way on a distance that is normally charged US$0,50.

Fruit and airtime vendors in the Harare CBD were trading as usual, but those at Mbare Musika and Mupedzanhamo market complained that their customers were affected by the transport situation in the morning.

The health sector was however not affected by the strike as major referral hospitals in most parts of the country were operational although some nurses did not report for duty.

At Chitungwiza and Harare Central hospitals, the authorities said doctors are reporting for duty and matrons and student nurses are manning the wards.

At both hospitals, outpatients departments and emergency services remain open and critical cases are being admitted.

To enable the few nurses to work smoothly some surgical and medical inpatients have been combined and this has left some wards empty.

In the education sector, some schools, mostly in Epworth, Harare totally closed gates while others were open but teachers did not turn up.

There were also mixed responses to the call for a stay away in all the other provinces across the country.

While no incidents of violence were reported during the better part of the day, some skirmishes were witnessed in Harare's Budiriro and Mufakose suburbs and at Mucheke rank in Masvingo but the alert police quickly brought the situations under control.

Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Dr Gerald Gwinji has informed the Health Service Board that treasury has shifted salaries for health workers to the 8th of July.