Govt bars unvaccinated civil servants from work

Harare (New Ziana)-Civil servants who are yet to be vaccinated against COVID-19 will not be allowed to report for work, Cabinet resolved on Tuesday.

Previously, unvaccinated government workers were not allowed to travel to work using buses provided by their employer.

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa announced the new directive in her weekly Post Cabinet Briefing.

“Pursuant to the previous announcement that all civil servants should be vaccinated, Cabinet further resolved that no unvaccinated civil servants will be allowed to come to work,” she said.

Mutsvangwa said Cabinet was concerned with the low vaccine uptake in Mashonaland Central and Chitungwiza.

“Every effort is being made to encourage citizens to be vaccinated as this is for the good of us all.”

Meanwhile, Mutsvangwa also announced a new Cabinet directive pertaining church gatherings.

She said Cabinet discussed the request by churches for a review of the number of congregants allowed in church services to at least a third, taking into account the size of the church.

“Whilst all other gatherings shall not exceed 100 persons, with regards to churches, Cabinet has resolved that only vaccinated congregants can attend and should be limited to 50 percent of the holding capacity of the Church.

“Cabinet would like to appreciate the open communication that exists between Government and all stakeholders across the socio-economic stratum of Zimbabwe, and would like to assure the nation that any member or group of persons may make representations to the Cabinet Inter-Ministerial Taskforce on COVID-19 on any related matters, but may not be members of the same.”

Further, Mutsvangwa said Cabinet had approved the resumption of all sports.

Regarding schools, she said 79 learners and 20 teachers tested positive for COVID-19 during the week under review, bringing the total under of confirmed cases in schools to 132.

“All active cases are isolated and managed by the Ministry of Health and Child Care,” she said.

“On school attendance by learners, the average learner turnout increased from the previously recorded 73.3 percent to 76.2percent, while that of teachers was at 85.5 percent.”
New Ziana