President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa launches unique Documentary highlighting how under his leadership Zimbabwe united against the COVID-19 pandemic

Harare, 2 March 2023 - His Excellency Cde Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, President
Today, the Republic of Zimbabwe launched a unique documentary with many stakeholders at the Rainbow Towers Hotel in Harare. The one-hour documentary "Fighting the Wave: How a Nation United to Fight the COVID-19 Pandemic" will be broadcast five times on the Zimbabwe Broadcast Cooperation (ZBC) television station. It will also be uploaded on several social media channels, allowing all people in Zimbabwe and abroad to view how the country effectively faced the COVID-19 pandemic as one.

The documentary tells the Zimbabwe COVID-19 national response story first-hand
reflections by stakeholders involved in the national response, from the President to
Government representatives, civil society, community voices and the scientific
world. The Documentary highlights how, through a multisectoral approach, the Government of Zimbabwe led an effective, coordinated and robust response to the COVID-19 pandemic, distinguishing Zimbabwe as a leader and fast-mover in the region.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the President and the Government of Zimbabwe
united all stakeholders, including donors, development partners, international financial
institutions, civil society organisations, communities and the private sector

Lessons learned and key messages highlighted in the documentary include the
effectiveness of the high-level country leadership, commitment and coordination of the
COVID-19 pandemic response by His Excellency President Emmerson Dambudzo
Mnangagwa; The collaboration by all stakeholders at national and decentralised levels that
enabled a well-coordinated emergency response approach; The commitment and dedication shown by frontline workers in both the public and the private sector; The robust COVID-19 public health and social measures that Government put in place and implemented in collaboration with stakeholders to protect lives and livelihoods, particularly of the most vulnerable and finally, the evidence-based response approach that government took.

The documentary acknowledges that while many constraints and challenges were
encountered along the way, ultimately, many lives were saved, and crisis response
strengthened, and under the steady leadership of His Excellency President Emmerson
Dambudzo Mnangagwa, the nation has emerged today better prepared to handle the next
emergency based on the many valuable lessons learned.

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Note for the editors


On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak a global pandemic as a public health emergency of international concern. Zimbabwe reported its first COVID-19 case on March 21, 2020.

By the end of 28 February 2023, the country had experienced four main COVID-19
pandemic waves and recorded a cumulative total of 264,179 cases, including 5,669
deaths.Under the Leadership of His Excellency President ED Mnangagwa, The Government of Zimbabwe instituted different direct and indirect public health and social measures in response. to the COVID-19 pandemic. DY, the National guided these measures COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Strategy and successive COVID-19 Response intersectoral Operational Plans. Given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, a whole government approach was adopted involving different ministries and their departments and stakeholders, including communities.

The response to the pandemic was coordinated through a national Cabinet Inter-Ministerial task force from the Office of the President and Cabinet and included eight technical subcommittees on health and infrastructure; Education; Information and risk communication; Food and water sustainability; Logistics and transport; Law and order; Resource mobilisation; and Material production. All eight subcommittees received monitoring and logistics support from the Command Centre and science-driven advice from the National COVID-19 Experts Advisory Committee.

For more information:
The Chief Coordinator, National Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Office of The President and Cabinet
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
Munhumutapa Building AND CABINET
Samora Machel Ave
Harare, Zimbabwe