Smiles for SA Based Zimbabweans as Level 1 Starts today
The Zimbabwean community in South Africa is all smiles as the country moves to level 1 lockdown effective today the 21st of September 2020. South Africa has been closed for almost 6 months as the country battles the Coronavirus pandemic which is the highest in the world.
The level 1 opens borders a move that will allow more traffic from other countries. Speaking to Dangwe News most touts at the popular Power House Bus Terminus were happy with level 1 and borders opening. ‘Blazi (Brother) we are battling battling and some are now sleeping in the streets. We had no income since March Busses were off the roads, no money for us and no rent payments. It was tough and it is my hope things will get back to March levels gradually’. The ever busy area resembled a ghost mining town with zero activity.
In the tourism city of Cape Town most in hospitality sector also welcomed the move to level one as the sector survives on tourists mainly from Europe. Tsitsi originally from Mukakose said she was living on donations and a few dollars from family members in UK. ‘It was bad I went from a hotel manager to a zero. We opened last week but only on a 35% salary as business is very low but with level 1 it will likely increase.
Economist in South Africa have said the country lost over 3 Million jobs due to lockdown caused by Coronavirus. In the last quarter the economy contracted by a massive 51% lowest levels ever in past 50 years.