On Friday, February 26, South Africa’s TimesLive, reported: “Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa says the country may consider mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations following resistance by the population towards getting the jab.”
The ZimLive website ran the headline: “Zimbabwe to deny jobs, key services to those resisting Covid-19 vaccine.” News aggregator Pindula said “Mnangagwa: Those Who Aren’t Vaccinated Won’t Get Jobs.”
What did Mnangagwa say?
Speaking at an event at Nyamandlovu on Thursday, February 25, Mnangagwa urged people to take the vaccine. He said vaccination remains voluntary, but that those not vaccinated may in future not be able to get jobs or use public transport.
He said, in Shona: “Haumanikidzwi kubaiwa. Ichasvinga nguva yekuti kana usina kubaiwa hauwani basa, kana usina kubaiwa haukwiri ZUPCO. Saka wotowona kuti woita sei.” (Vaccination is not mandatory. But in future, you will not get a job, or get on a ZUPCO bus, if you have not been vaccinated. So you will have to decide.)
Vaccine passport
In his speech, Mnangagwa could have been referring to the global debate towards the use of “vaccination passports”.
Globally, the US, the UK, and the European Union are among those considering a “vaccination passport”. This is a certificate showing that one has been vaccinated. It would be used for traveling abroad, as well as to grant access to public spaces such as restaurants or shops.
On Monday, February 21, the UK government discussed introducing the certificates. The UK said it is debating the “ethical” consideration of allowing businesses to require any workers, customers and service providers to have a vaccination certificate. The EU, on Thursday, February 25, debated the introduction of vaccination certificates.
However, the World Health Organisation cautioned in statement on Jan. 28 that governments should “not introduce requirements of proof of vaccination or immunity for international travel as a condition of entry” as “there are still critical unknowns regarding the efficacy of vaccination in reducing transmission and limited availability of vaccines”.
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