Hosia Mviringi
Government continues to delicately manage the balance between growing the economy and saving lives, with its cautious approach to reopening of sectors.
Recently, President Mnangagwa announced a further easing of the Covid-19 induced lockdown, to allow for wider participation of all economic sectors including restaurants and canteens.
This follows a smooth progression of government led vaccination program.
The program received a timely boost yesterday when President Emmerson Mnangagwa received a further 400000 Sinopharm Vaccines from China.
Speaking at this year`s sixth Post Cabinet briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said;
“Restaurants can now be allowed to serve sit in meals at fifty per cent capacity, provided they adhere to strict World Health Organisation Covid19 protocols. Those found flouting these regulations will be closed down immediately.”
This is a timely relief to the industry as customers can return to dining again with renewed confidence.
It is hoped that this will inspire confidence for customers to begin to patronise facilities once again.
Stage two of phase one of the vaccination program will target tobacco merchants and their workers, teachers, and hospitality workers.
This augurs well for the hospitality industry as its workers will be exposed to a large number of visitors and customers daily.
Now that inter-provincial travel is permitted once again, the nation hopes to see occupancy levels in hotels and resorts rising again, pushing upwards demand for catering services.
All things being equal, the sector is expected to start hiring again, starting with those that were laid off during lockdown.
International travel complicated as commercial passenger flights are yet to resume in some countries.
Once international travel resumes, travel, recreation, catering and conferences are expected to spur a quick recovery of the sector and the economy at large.
Players in the sector were living on a prayer as no one knew what tomorrow would bring.
However, the reopening of the restaurant sector adds a glimmer of hope to the tourism industry which remains one of the top foreign currency earners of the economy.
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