Trail of relatives' deaths exposes cruel hand of Covid-19

My brothers and sisters last Friday I lost my elder brother Elvis to Covid-19. Elvis Maplanka was a prominent businessman in Bulawayo in the transport and retail sector. Over and above his business, he used to take a trip as a bus driver to South Africa for Revival Bus Company, every Friday.

He took such a trip on January 5, but his bus got stuck in the serious congestion at Beitbridge border post. It was in that congestion that we suspect he contracted Covid-19. He was popular and well known by many people who ply the Zim-Johannesburg route. Let us have no doubt this disease is here and it is very aggressive.

He was only ill for less than a week. The only way to truly avoid this disease is to stay at home and avoid unnecessary journeys or allow visitors into your home because you don't know where they have been, nor whom they were with. If you really have to go out, please make sure you wear your mask properly over your nose.

Do not be afraid to tell people around you to wear their masks properly. If you wear your mask correctly and the next person has no mask, you still have a 30 percent chance to contract the virus.

In public, make sure everyone around you wears their mask properly, over their nose. Also, take with you a small bottle of hand sanitiser.  Do not be shy to sanitise after shaking hands with someone or after touching any surface, be it a car door or a gate.

That small action could save your life.  These are unprecedented times. My aunt died three weeks ago in Johannesburg of Covid-19. My uncle is recovering from it now, but what pains me the most is that three of my aunt's sisters have since died in the space of three weeks, one is being buried today as I write this.

They contracted the virus in the house at the funeral. My uncle was at pains to explain to me how he had begged his wife's relatives not to enter the house, but being African and with our compassion, culture and abundant love for one another, they thought otherwise and they have paid the price.

Six more are critical! Having learned from my uncle's experience, we decided as a family that they would be no funeral wake, no gathering and we fully observe Covid-19 protocols throughout the mourning period. We all mourned from our houses. We used zoom to do all the meetings and evening services. It was most painful for us, and even more for my brother's wife who was without the usual love and comfort afforded to a widow in our normal African traditional way.

I just thank Jesus because he held her hand and gave her strength to carry on.

The word of God tells us that "Blessed are those that mourn for they shall be comforted" Matthew 5 Vs 4. I pray that you will find sense to stay at home and observe the lockdown and support it, as it is meant to help us all. If we all stayed at home without moving out for 30 days, we would be able to eradicate this virus once and for all in our country.

Personally, I regret the opening up of boarders during Christmas, because my brother was a cross-border bus driver, and I believe that decision was his death knell. I believe in our Government and its efforts to combat this disease, but I feel it is us the citizens who must protect each other by following the rules.  

I still see people who only wear their mask properly only when they see the police to avoid arrest.  

This is a very wrong attitude. It is the duty of each and every one of us to wear their mask properly and to sanitise while in public. To my fellow Christians and followers of Christ, I urge you to follow the teachings of our Lord and saviour.

He teaches us to be law abiding and to be compassionate. He teaches us to follow the word of God. Today as an apostle and follower of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, I will leave you with this verse that the Holy Spirit ordered me to deliver to you.

Isaiah 26:20; "Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until his wrath has passed by."

The Lord has spoken. While you are hiding in your rooms, maintain prayer and petition God to remove the indignation. Pray in WhatsApp groups and meet on social media. Those with technical know how, help your pastors and the whole church to meet and continue God's work online. May God bless you.

May God protect you. May God be with you throughout these trying times. Please share this experience with others, you don't know which lives you will save.

God bless and protect you as you do so.

Amen.

Apostle Paul Maplanka is the founder of the The Christian Church of God. he cane be contacted on +263778526626.