Zimbabwe orders government workers to be vaccinated for coronavirus

By John Cassim

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AA) - Authorities in Zimbabwe announced Tuesday that only government workers vaccinated for the coronavirus will be allowed to board government buses to offices.

The move comes after an announcement by President Emmerson Mnangagwa during a vaccination program launch in February that vaccinations were free and on a voluntary basis.

A circular on July 19 by Secretary of the Public Service Commission (PSC) Ambassador Jonathan Wutawunashe directed all government departments that “the PSC shall ensure fumigation of buses daily and after each trip. Only members with proof of vaccination against COVID-19 shall board PSC buses.”

Owing to a spike in COVID-19 cases and a sharp increase in related deaths, the government also directed a further reduction of workers from 40% to 10%.

In his announcement a fortnight ago, while introducing a “Level 4” national lockdown, Mnangagwa directed workspaces should be reduced to 40% to curb the spread of the Delta virus that has dominated positive cases by 80%, according to the Ministry of Health.

As of July 19, Zimbabwe recorded 85,732 cases, including 2,697 deaths compared to 41, 628 cases, and 1,666 death from March 2020 to June 19, 2020.

The government is on a campaign to fully vaccinate at least 1 million people by end of August. The first jabs stand at 1,184,435 and second doses are at 643, 203.