National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) says the Government is applauded for the initiative to provide safety nets for the vulnerable and deserving populations of the Zimbabwean society as a result of the lockdown.
Zimbabwe has a program of providing financial help to the vulnerable in the urban areas.
“The Commission urges transparency, fairness and non-partisanship in the registration of beneficiaries and the distribution of resources,” NPRC says in a press statement.
“All stakeholders in the value chain are implored to desist from corrupt and profiteering tendencies.”
NPRC also urged the security sector to respect the media’s constitutional rights with journalists facing arrests and intimidation during while covering the lockdown.
“The media played a positive role in informing the nation on Covid-19, the lockdown, compliance by the citizens and enforcement by the security sector,” the commission says.
“There is need for an improvement of relations between the media and the security sector. The Commission implores the media to practice responsible and peace journalism by avoiding sensationalised reportage. The security sector is alsourged to respect the constitutional rights of all accredited media practitioners.”
“Both the security sector and the media are critical and are urged to exercise restraint, maturity, respect and tolerance towards each other in the performance of their constitutional obligations.”
The commission also implored cooperation between the state and citizens during the remaining days of the lockdown, with reports of members of the security sector attacking the residence circulating in the media.
“During the lockdown days covered so far, the NPRC noted a commendable level of compliance by citizens (though some attempted to defy the lockdown measures), a remarkable restraint by law enforcement officers(although some few misguided and undisciplined elements tarnished the image of the sector by acts of abusing citizens),” the commission says.
