“Pandemics of this kind have a scientific explanation and know no boundary, and like any other natural phenomenon cannot be blamed on anyone,” Mnangagwa said Monday.
The president's comments came hours after Zimbabwe's defence minister Oppah Muchinguri sparked outrage after claiming that the coronavirus was God’s punishment on countries that imposed sanctions on the southern African country.
Speaking to supporters of her Zanu-PF party at the weekend, Muchinguri appeared to celebrate the disease’s spread through Europe and the United States, saying “they’re now keeping indoors. Their economies are screaming, just like they did to ours. Trump should know that he is not God."
“America & her allies are being punished by God with the Coronavirus,” said Zimbabwe’s Defense Minister, Oppah Muchinguri in Chinhoyi on Saturday.
— Hopewell Chin’ono-Journalist (@daddyhope) March 14, 2020
She said Trump was not God, adding that America should feel the wrath of God for imposing sanctions on Zimbabwe in disturbing remarks pic.twitter.com/vjwHYvhUtU
Muchinguri's comments immediately prompted backlash from opposition politicians, humanitarian organisations and ordinary Zimbabweans on social media.
Sensing the public mood, Mnangagwa issued Monday's statement adding that his government “empathises with the affected people around the globe”, avoiding mention of Muchinguri's name or her criticism of the US.
Chinese vs Western disease
Critics have been quick to point out that the virus, which can cause a dry cough and fever and lead to breathing difficulties, first originated in China, one of Zimbabwe’s biggest political allies, and therefore could not be a Western disease.
“How does she face her Chinese counterparts, where the pandemic began when she makes such insulting and insensitive statements?” tweeted Alex Magaisa, a government critic and law lecturer at the University of Kent in the United Kingdom.
2. How can Zimbabwe be ready for this pandemic when its leaders believe coronavirus is Divine punishment upon the West? Everywhere else in the world, including neighbors, governments are taking measures. It started in China but ZANU PF’s Chairperson thinks it’s a Western disease.
— Alex T Magaisa 🇿🇼 (@Wamagaisa) March 15, 2020
Zimbabwe’s health ministry maintains that it has no confirmed cases of the coronavirus, but neighbouring South Africa has more than 60. Across Africa, 30 of the continent's 54 countries have confirmed cases.
On Tuesday, Mnangagwa declared the coronavirus pandemic a national disaster to allow the government to mobilise resources to defend against it.
Zimbabwe's international trade fair and the 40th independence celebrations set for next month have also been postponed.
Daily news briefReceive essential international news every morning
Subscribe
