No COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate; No Entry
BULAWAYO residents woke up to the news that they would not be able to access the Mhlahlandlela Government without vaccination cards, a measure to contain the deadly COVID-19 which continues to claim the lives of many Zimbabweans.
The move has been termed illegal by a number of activists but health experts maintain having everyone vaccinated is the only way out of the situation.
So far, 1 707 671 people have received their first COVID-19 dose and of those, only 376 224 are from Matabeleland region.
As of 3 August 2021, Zimbabwe had recorded 112 435 cases including 81 570 recoveries and 3 676 deaths.
Bulawayo Metropolitan Province Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Honourable Judith Ncube said residents should seriously consider being vaccinated to protect their loved ones from the virus.
“We have been told that the current variant is very transmissible and it will be wise for all of us to get vaccinated, especially civil servants who serve members of the public and are exposed to COVID-19. I call upon our people to get vaccinated and help us in achieving herd immunity so that we can slowly get back to our normal and productive lives without the fear of succumbing to COVID-19,” said Minister Ncube.
Besides the Government complex which has started initiating the ‘no jab, no entry’ policy, several companies and Government entities have joined in ensuring that the country achieves herd immunity likely to ease lockdown conditions.
National COVID-19 Coordinator Dr Agnes Mahomva said while vaccination remains optional it was necessary for everyone to get vaccinated.
“We encourage everyone to get vaccinated. Government is encouraging everyone to be vaccinated. That is the thrust we are pushing to make sure that not only do we reach herd immunity and also to ensure that at individual level everyone is protected,” said Dr Mahomva.
“I would have to check where this is coming (COVID-19 certificate entry requirement at Mhlahlandlela Government Complex) from. But I would just like to say again that the Government is encouraging everyone, particularly civil servants to be vaccinated. Vaccination is for free; vaccination is voluntary but we are encouraging everyone for individual’s sake to get vaccinated.”
One of Bulawayo residents Miss Nokuthaba Ncube said the ban of unvaccinated people from Mhlahlandlela is a good move despite the fact that people feel it’s an infringement of their right.
“COVID-19 has disrupted a lot of things and for us to continue living we surely have to get vaccinated. I am happy the vaccination programme is easily accessible from anywhere in Bulawayo even soldiers are helping which means no one should fail to access Mhlahlandlela because of being unvaccinated,” she said.
One of the workers at Mhlahlandlela who preferred anonymity said the security personnel were efficient in ensuring that one entered the complex without vaccination.
“We have to continue living with COVID-19 and one of the ways is through vaccinating which has been proven to be effective. Of course, the move was tough for most of us as we were all forced to vaccinate in order to come to work but now, we are happy because the same is protecting us from potential transmission we may get while serving members of the public,” she said.