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5 COVID 19 AND NRZ

1.5.1 Covid 19 Background

Covid 19 is an abbreviation standing for Corona Virus Disease 2019. The virus
originated from Wuhan, a city in China in 2019. According to the World Health
Organization (WHO) Coronavirus disease is caused by the newly discovered
coronavirus. The virus spreads quickly through droplets of saliva and discharge
coming from the mouth and nose and mouth respectively. It spread quickly to all parts
of the world and it was therefore declared a public health emergency by the WHO
after thorough research and follow ups of the trends showed an increase in the number
of cases of infection and deaths globally. The correct information was made available
in all countries of the world thanks to WHO and this was done through the internet
and media houses and efforts were made to disseminate the information even to the
remote areas of the world.

1.5.2 NRZ’s Response to the Pandemic

The organization’s top management acted instantly, supervising the rest of the
employees’ efforts in the fight against the pandemic. Emergency response teams were
formed and these comprised people from various departments across NRZ system.
Among the team were Safety, Health and the Environment personnel, Passenger
Services Department, Public Relations personnel and the Finance Department. The
team held back to back meetings in order to make sure that all necessary requirements
to reduce the spread of the virus are met. Some of the measures put forward by the
organization included:

 Formulating a procedure that follows the WHO guidelines for the employees to
follow.
 Carrying out awareness campaigns by the Safety, Health and Environment
Personnel within the organization in order to help disseminate the correct
information to all employees on the virus.
 Procurement of various resources such as face masks, gloves, water dispensers,
disinfectants for disinfection of work surfaces and hand-washing as well as hand
sanitizers.
 Training of a few selected employees on disinfection of workplaces.
  Stopping of operation of passenger trains meaning goods trains only were
allowed to operate.
 Enforcement of frequent hand-washing and sanitization of hands and work
surfaces and tools during work activities.
All necessary measures were put in place and thereafter the President of Zimbabwe
issued out a press statement informing all Zimbabweans of a total lockdown which was
necessitated by an observation in the increase of infection cases world-wide. Only
essential services such as transport, hospitals, clinics and food outlets were allowed to
operate. During the first quarter of 2021, voluntary frontline workers received the
Syno-Vac vaccination.

1.5.3 Effects of Covid 19 on NRZ

Covid 19 affected the organisation as it affected any other operating business. The
decongestion of employees led to low productivity. Furthermore, employees
presenting symptoms of the virus and contacts self-quarantine at home for 3 and 14
days respectively. Positive cases are required to self-isolate until they are confirmed
to be negative. This was on the expense of the organisation since they are kept on
payroll. Loss of life was sadly experienced. Three (3) employees succumbed to the
deadly pandemic.

In February 2021, passenger services were suspended. This affected the organisation
by cutting another income source. Business was on the low since the market of NRZ
was also suffering the effects of Covid 19.

Increase in expenses funding for Covid 19 materials such as sanitizers, disinfection

kits, water dispensers and thermometers. Funding for transport for weekly
disinfections every week was also encountered. The funds could have been used for
infrastructural maintenance, repairing of rolling stock and other developments that
could be profiteering the organisation.