GMB gives workers vaccination ultimatum

Harare (New Ziana)-The Grain Marketing Board on Saturday gave its employees up to the end of July to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or risk being relieved of their duties.

In an internal memo GMB chief executive officer Rocky Mutenha said at some point this year, the utility had to close operations at some of its depots after recording COVID-19 cases.

“Records on file show that as of yesterday, 150 employees tested positive to COVID-19 across our depots.

“GMB has a staff compliment of 3 569 employees including contracts.Of these, only 1289 employees have been vaccinated, leaving a balance of 2280.Most GMB depots are in hotspots which is catastrophic as the unvaccinated 2280 are coming to work everyday and mixing with other employees and farmers thus potentially endangering their own lives and the lives of other people.”

He added: “In view of all of that, all GMB workers must be vaccinated in order to protect the public that we serve.All GMB workers must be vaccinated 31 July 2021.Those not vaccinated by that date should stop coming to work by 1st of August 2021 as they remain a threat to other employees and other stakeholders at GMB depots.”

On Friday alone, Zimbabwe recorded 2296 confirmed COVID-9 cases with 103 deaths, the highest fatalities in a single day so far.

The Government has acquired huge quantities of vaccines which are currently being distributed to all health centers in the country.

Said Mutenha : “By copy of this circular, all employees are instructed to visit their nearest local clinics, hospitals or vaccination centers and be vaccinated on or before the 31st of July 2021.”

More than one million Zimbabweans have so far received their first Covid-19 vaccine doses while over half a million others have since got their second shot.

New Ziana