Zimbabwe Orders Government Workers Vaccinated Against COVID

HARARE, ZIMBABWE - Zimbabwe has ordered all government workers to get vaccinated against the coronavirus, or lose pay if they refuse. But one of the largest government worker groups is resisting compulsory vaccinations, while another is calling for compliance with the directive.

After a cabinet meeting late Tuesday, Monica Mutsvangwa, Zimbabwe’s information minister, told reporters that the government was concerned about a continued increase in COVID-19 cases in the country.  “In light of the continued rise in COVID-19 cases, cabinet approved the following: the decongesting of both public and private sector workplaces. In taking the lead, government has further reduced its workforce to 25%. Priority will be given to the vaccinated personnel; Two, that the courts of law be opened only for remand and urgent cases; and three, that all civil servants should be vaccinated and those that fall ill without having been vaccinated will not be entitled to the COVID-19 insurance,” Mutsvangwa said. Robson Shereni, head of the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, says the directive must be defied.