HARARE- Zimbabwe has recorded a novel Coronavirus related death after a prominent media personality succumbed the Wilkins Hospital in Harare.

The Minister of Health and Childcare, Dr Obidiah Moyo announced at the weekend that the 30-year-old Zororo Makamba had travelled to New York, United States of America on the February 29 and returned home on March 9 via Johannesburg.  

He started exhibiting mild symptoms on March 12 which progressively got worse on March 19.  

This believed to be the first coronavirus-related death in southern Africa.

Zororo, famed for his explainer video series, State of the Nation with Zororo, was the son of a politician and former broadcaster, James Makamba.

Zimbabwe confirmed its first case of coronavirus in a 39-year-old Caucasian male who is a resident of Victoria Falls and had travelled to Manchester, United Kingdom on March 7 and returned on March 15 via South Africa.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has urged Zimbabweans to avoid travelling as part of measures to prevent the spreading of the virus.

Schools have been closed and some companies have asked their workers to work from home. Gatherings including church services have been stopped as part of the preventive measures.

 A trade and investment conference which was organized to promote business and trade between Rwanda and Zimbabwe was postponed as a result of the COVI-19.

The Rwanda Zimbabwe Trade and Investment Conference was due to be held from the 24th to the 26th of March in Kigali’s Serena Hotel.

About 127 business people from Zimbabwe had registered to attend the trade and investment conference.