Cooped up in an isolation ward, a
young Zimbabwean man who had been diagnosed with Covid-19 pleaded with his
family for help.
young Zimbabwean man who had been diagnosed with Covid-19 pleaded with his
family for help.
Thirty-year-old Zororo Makamba was “alone and scared”,
according to his older brother who spoke to Zimbabwe’s privately owned Daily
News newspaper.
according to his older brother who spoke to Zimbabwe’s privately owned Daily
News newspaper.
Makamba was being treated in the Wilkins Hospital, designated as
the main isolation facility for coronavirus patients in Zimbabwe’s capital,
Harare.
the main isolation facility for coronavirus patients in Zimbabwe’s capital,
Harare.
Shortly after he talked to his family, he was dead.
The death of Makamba, a well-known journalist, came swiftly –
less than three days after his diagnosis.
less than three days after his diagnosis.
Famous
for his online social and political commentary, under the banner “State of
the Nation”, his death achieved an unwanted milestone.
He
was the country’s first coronavirus casualty and it shocked Zimbabwe.
was the country’s first coronavirus casualty and it shocked Zimbabwe.
The
fact that Makamba came from a wealthy, high-profile family did not save him,
and family members have argued that his death has exposed the inadequacies of
the country’s medical response to the threat of coronavirus.
fact that Makamba came from a wealthy, high-profile family did not save him,
and family members have argued that his death has exposed the inadequacies of
the country’s medical response to the threat of coronavirus.
“The
government is ill-prepared to deal with the virus,” older brother Tawanda
Makamba told the Daily News.
government is ill-prepared to deal with the virus,” older brother Tawanda
Makamba told the Daily News.
The
health ministry said his pre-existing condition made him vulnerable to the
disease. He had undergone surgery last November to remove a tumour from under
his lung and was in recovery.
health ministry said his pre-existing condition made him vulnerable to the
disease. He had undergone surgery last November to remove a tumour from under
his lung and was in recovery.
While
his family admit that his immune system was compromised, they insist that his
death could have been avoided.
his family admit that his immune system was compromised, they insist that his
death could have been avoided.
