For weeks critics have been urging Zimbabweans to be vigilant as the country was seeing surge in COVID-19 cases. Now it seems with are in the throes of a proper and deadly second wave. Just today there were two deaths involving prominent people that are being attributed to the coronavirus. Frontline works have also painted a picture of chaos at government hospitals as ill-equipped hospitals seem to be buckling under pressure.

To put our situation into perspective, you see we recorded nearly 500 positive new cases in 2 days. If it so happens that these new cases need a hospital bed, then you can see how we can easily run out of beds. And in those 2 days we have lost 9 people and much more in a week. pic.twitter.com/DfG9du2nlU

— Nick Mangwana (@nickmangwana) January 2, 2021

Government spokesperson painted a dire picture

The rich and famous not being spared

Message shared by prominent Journalist Hopewell Chon’ono

This morning the Herald reported that Impala Car Rental’s CEO had passed away due to COVID-19 complications. Dorothy Shamhuyarira the widow the cabinet member Nathan Shamuyarira also passed away recently. Thokozani Khupe of the MDC-T faction was also recently hospitalised. A lot of prominent people are also on social media reporting their positive cases and desperately looking for wards with ventilators with reports that Parirenyatwa and major hospitals are full.

Im desperately looking for a Hospital in Harare that is taking COVID19 patients who require a ventilator. I have a relative who is critically ill went to St Annes, Arundel Hospital, Parirenyatwa and Health Point last night but they were all full please help?
— Star Dewah (@StarDewah) January 2, 2021

Looking for a hospital bed with a ventilator in Harare. Will pay any price. All hospitals we have checked are full, please ?? | +263 7 72220084
— #ThePeoplesChampion???✊? (@acielumumba) January 2, 2021