The government rolled out its immunization drive a few days ago targeting frontline workers, including healthcare personnel and immigration officers with the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine.
But the uptake has been subdued even among doctors and nurses as many people question the vaccine’s safety and efficacy, especially against the more infectious South African variant now dominant in Zimbabwe.
“You are not forced to be vaccinated but time shall come when those who are not vaccinated won’t get jobs and won’t be able to board ZUPCO buses. So, decide what you do,” Mnangagwa said, speaking in Shona.
The president was addressing hundreds of Zanu PF supporters who gathered in clear contravention of government’s Covid-19 regulations in Nyamandlovu for the opening of 20 boreholes to supply water to the City of Bulawayo.
While it remains unclear if Mnangagwa’s apparently coercive remarks would translate into government policy, observers said such a draconian measure would not pass the legal test.
Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, who also serves as health minister, became the first Zimbabwean to get a coronavirus shot from the Sinopharm vaccine last week, telling citizens the jab was safe and effective as he sought to allay growing anxieties.
Mnangagwa also vouched for the Chinese vaccine on Thursday and urged people to get vaccinated.
He said the fact that Chiwenga was still alive showed the vaccine had no detrimental effect.
“I-vaccine leyi irayithi, inhle liyithathe (this vaccine is safe, please take it up),” Mnangagwa said, adding, “The vice president of the party and the country had the first jab, he is still here.”
“My cabinet and myself in two weeks will be next when the next batch comes, I will be vaccinated. Wena ungubani (who are you not to get vaccinated)?” he asked.
Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe would soon receive more vaccine doses from mainly China, India, and Russia to fight off the respiratory illness that has since killed 1,458 people and infected 35,994 others.
Post published in: Featured
ED threatens that there will come a time that anyone who hasn’t been vaccinated against COVID-19 will not get on a ZUPCO bus, or be employed.
Such reckless statements, which are a clear violation of human rights should not be taken lightly but immediately challenged by all progressive and justice loving Zimbabweans.
What worries me the most is that, these statements are based on gross scientific ignorance – as, even those who would be vaccinated, can still be infected, and infect others.
These vaccines – even if their efficacy and safety was the best ever – only protect an infected person from falling sick, and possible death. But, they can still be infected, and can still infect others.
It’s appears even our leaders don’t understand how vaccines work.
Zimbabweans who won’t voluntarily take a Covid-19 vaccine will be denied access to jobs and essential services such as public transportation, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said Thursday.
“You are not forced to be vaccinated but time shall come when those who are not vaccinated won’t get jobs and won’t be able to board ZUPCO buses. So, decide what you do,” Mnangagwa said, speaking in Shona
Zimbabwe will need 20 million vaccine doses to reach its head immunity of 10 million, by the government’s own calculation. The country has only received 200 000 vaccines or 1% of its requirement. Most developed countries will hit their head immunity by end of this year, middle income nation will reach head immunity by end of 2022 with the poor nations like Zimbabwe getting there by 2023!
Of course, the nation’s greatest worry right now is how many people will be infected with the virus and how many will die before we finally reach head-immunity. The regime should be concerned about how it has left so many people in this sorry state – two more years of this hell on earth!
How ironic that Mnangagwa should find the nightmare situation a laughing matter. Even if there are some people who are not confident about taking the vaccine when you have enough to vaccinate only 1% there will be enough takers, you do not need to resort to threaten people.
The country will be luck to have enough to vaccine a total of 40% of the population by end of 2022, by then there will data on the effects of the vaccine from the developed world to allay any concerns on the vaccine. The threats are all in bad test.
Unemployment is 90% plus and there is no chance of the economy creating an avalanche of new jobs potential employers will run out of workers if they restricted their choice to only those who were vaccinated.
This is just another one of Mnangagwa’s sick jokes! Here is a man who has ruled the nation by fear and enjoys making people feel they are under his mercy and he is toying with their sense of helplessness!
The country has serious challenges ahead and the regime is busy fighting imaginary ones! Don Quixote’s fighting the windmills!