* Most Zimbabweans stay home, Harare's streets deserted
* Lockdown likely to hurt already strained economy
* In South Africa, many struggle to maintain lockdown
* Botswana records first three coronavirus cases
(Adds Ramaphosa, Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique detail)
By MacDonald Dzirutwe
HARARE, March 30 (Reuters) - Zimbabwe began a 21-day
nationwide lockdown on Monday, following South Africa in
implementing tough anti-coronavirus measures that are likely to
hurt an economy already suffering from hyperinflation and food
shortages.
But unlike neighbouring South Africa, where many citizens
defied calls to stay indoors and some clashed with security
forces at the weekend, Zimbabweans mostly stayed home.
Zimbabwe's police have a reputation for brutality and were
manning checkpoints on highways into the capital on Monday,
questioning the few motorists on the roads.
The main opposition party, the MDC Alliance, supports the
lockdown and criticised the government for not imposing it
earlier.
Zimbabwe has recorded just seven coronavirus cases and one
death, but President Emmerson Mnangagwa said in a televised
address that citizens should take the restrictions on movement
seriously.
"I want all of you to spend the next 21 days acting as if
you already have the virus ... Would you want to infect your
friends, would you want to infect your families, would you want
to infect your countrymen? Of course not. So, keep your
distance," Mnangagwa said.
He said the security forces would enforce the lockdown "with
a listening ear".
The finance ministry said it had made available 500 million
Zimbabwean dollars (around $20 million) and would unfreeze 4,000
posts in the health sector.
Central Harare's streets were deserted. Banks, government
offices and businesses were shut.
In the poor township of Mbare, the inter-city bus rank was
closed and rows of wooden stalls used by vegetable vendors
abandoned.
Nearby, six men sat outside their flat drinking gin. Fox
Dhalu, a 36-year-old father of three, complained that some shops
had hiked prices.
"The government gave us short notice to prepare for this
coronavirus lockdown. We are very angry about this," he said.
A few blocks from the police station in the middle class
suburb of Mabelreign, 73-year-old grandmother Angela Nerwande
sat on an improvised stool selling vegetables on her stall.
"What will my grandchildren eat if I stay at home? "At my
age I am not afraid of dying. If they want to arrest me let them
come," she said.
In a statement, Zimbabwe Police spokesman Assistant
Commissioner Paul Nyathi said: "The law is very clear, those who
don't comply will be arrested and prosecuted."
WATER CANNON
In South Africa, many of the most vulnerable people have
struggled to observe the lockdown, and people in poor,
overcrowded townships have continued to mingle, sometimes
prompting security forces to use water cannon to break them up.
State broadcaster SABC aired videos of soldiers humiliating
people, making them do squats and pulling one along the ground
with a wire. Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said they
should not use excessive force.
"We want our security services to partner with our
communities to stop the spread of coronavirus," she said.
South African police said a policeman and security guard had
shot a man dead during the coronavirus lockdown. In a bid to ease the impact, South Africa relaxed
restrictions on taxis during rush hour and made early social
security payments to the elderly.
"We are scared of being sick but there is nothing we can do,
what are we going to eat? We are here to get paid so we can buy
food," said Maryjane Jinethi, 66, as she queued in Soweto for
her cheque.
South Africa's number of confirmed cases rose to 1,326 and
three deaths on Monday. President Cyril Ramaphosa urged people to stay indoors and
respect the restrictions the government had put in place.
"Let us not make the mistake of thinking this is somebody
else's problem," he said in an address to the nation, adding
that some 10,000 field workers would be visiting homes in
villages, towns and cities to screen for symptoms of COVID-19,
the disease caused by the coronavirus.
In Nigeria's capital Abuja and the main city Lagos, those
who could afford to stock up queued at shops ahead of a 14-day
lockdown starting at 11 p.m. (2200 GMT). Botswana recorded its first three coronavirus cases, and
Mozambique declared a state of emergency. Namibian police fined
and arrested at least 36 people for violating regulations
designed to contain the spread of the virus. Angola recorded its first two coronavirus deaths at the
weekend, local news agency Angop reported.