Make COVID-19 vaccination compulsory: Hungwe

By Shamiso Ndangana

Senator for Masvingo Province Josiah Hungwe has called on the government to make the COVID-19 vaccination compulsory for all citizens.

Zimbabwe is currently vaccinating frontline workers with the 200 000 Sinopharm vaccines that came from China.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said vaccination is voluntary although he has threatened to put force measures.

The force measures are said to be a reaction to the slow uptake of the vaccine by those falling in the frontline category.

However, in what could be a direct conflict with the government’s measures, Senator Hungwe said everyone must get the jab with no exceptions.

“Madam speaker, COVID-19 vaccines must be compulsory, everyone must be vaccinated from COVID-19, it doesn’t matter your race or ethnic every Zimbabwean must be vaccinated,” he said.

Zimbabweans are sceptical about the Chinese vaccines due to a lack of adequate information from the government.

Most people wanted the government to conduct tests on the vaccines first before administering them.

However, the government is on record saying they are not going to test the vaccines because they were tested by the manufacturers.

Sinopharm is one of the many vaccines that have been given the WHO Emergency Use Certificate for COVID-19.

According to Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, who doubles as Health Minister, Zimbabwe is targeting to vaccinate about 10 million people to reach head-immunity.

About US$100 million has been earmarked for the vaccination program and is expected to cover procurement and roll out.

Senator Hungwe also took the opportunity to urge citizens that they must continue upholding WHO guidelines despite the relaxation of lockdown restrictions.

“Madam Speaker, just because we have relaxed the lockdown, Zimbabweans must work hard in following the WHO guidelines.

“We must not worry about the South Africa COVID-19 wave. We pray to a living God and we have our chiefs and others who do rituals,” he said.

Zimbabwe spent the months of January and February under Level lockdown following a surge in new COVID-19 cases and related deaths across the country.