[ad_1]
Zimbabwe is demanding that its 500,000 government workers and several other groups get vaccinated against COVID-19.
This sets the southern African nation apart from almost all the others in Africa. Many African countries have difficulty getting enough pictures.
Zimbabwe said it had more than enough vaccines. The country bought most of them from China. The government says the difficulty has been people’s lack of confidence in the vaccine. Part of it is because they distrust the government. But Zimbabwe’s plan raises worrying questions about the rights of its citizens.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University are recording information on coronavirus infections around the world. They found that Zimbabwe had reported around 130,000 cases of the virus and around 4,600 deaths. These numbers are probably too low. However, the virus has not hit Zimbabwe as heavily as other countries. This could add to the lack of urgency of Zimbabweans to be vaccinated.
Critics say the government of Zimbabwe is unable to administer the vaccination effort. The centers sometimes lack injections. And poor urban and rural areas have not received gunfire in recent months.
Critics also say it is cruel to endanger the livelihoods of people who are among the most vulnerable.
Dewa Mavhinga is the Southern Africa director of Human Rights Watch. He said the government of Zimbabwe should first make sure vaccines are also available to everyone before requiring them.
Mavingha said distrust of the vaccine should be addressed “in a way that builds public confidence and confidence in vaccines without the use of force.
Rights activists describe the government of Zimbabwe as authoritarian. He seems ready to continue enforcing his vaccine rules. The government already requires vaccines in religious places and has suggested extending the application to public buses. Public buses are very important to the poor in the country. Markets, which millions of people need to buy or sell goods, could also be restricted.
These measures would effectively make the vaccine a requirement for almost all Zimbabwean adults. This includes two-thirds of the workforce who are unlikely to experience enforcement from their employers.
Administer the vaccine
Some Zimbabweans waited hours before being informed that their vaccination center was closing due to a lack of supplies or staff. People who could receive the second injection have also been turned away from centers that preference to those looking for the first shot. However, new vaccine supplies have arrived recently and the lines appear to be getting shorter.
About 15 percent of Zimbabwe’s 15 million people are fully immunized. This is above four percent for all Africans but far from the government’s target of 60 percent. The country received 12 million shots. These are mainly the Chinese vaccines Sinopharm and Sinovac, which require two injections. Johns Hopkins University found that just over 5 million people were administered.
Vaccine debates
Peter Mutasa is the president of Zimbabwe’s largest trade union organization. He said the government was responsible for not vaccinating enough people.
“The workers tried to get vaccinated,” he said.
Mutasa’s organization, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, is fighting against law enforcement for workers in the courts. It is one of the only organizations in the country to publicly oppose it. Other groups seem unwilling to speak out for fear of being seen as anti-vaccine.
Mutasa is not against blows. He said linking them to jobs means jobs will be lost “unnecessarily”. The economy collapsed just over 10 years ago with high levels of inflation. Almost half of Zimbabwe’s population lives on less than $ 1.90 a day.
Dr Agnes Mahomva is the chief organizer of the government’s COVID-19 efforts. She defends the demands, saying they aim to “protect everyone”. She maintains that they remain voluntary in a way.
“If someone does not want to be vaccinated, no one will come to their home to to catch and vaccinate them, ”she said.
But Mutasa noted that workers who really need the money have “no way of saying no.”
Acholo Jani repairs machines in Zimbabwe. He cannot return to work until he is fully immunized. After waiting early, he decided to get the vaccine.
Until he is fully vaccinated, he sells everything he can on the streets to earn money while not receiving his usual salary.
“How are you going to survive without a vaccination record in this country?” He asked.
I am Grégory Stachel. And I am Dan Novak.
Farai Mutsaka reported this story to The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor.
_____________________________________________________________________
Words in this story
vulnerable – adj. easily injured or injured physically, mentally or emotionally
confidence -not. a feeling or belief that someone or something is good or has the ability to achieve something
authoritarian – adj. expect or require people to obey rules or laws: do not allow personal freedom
preference – not. a benefit that is given to certain people or things and not to others
to catch – v. quickly grab and hold (someone or something) with the hand or arms
Source link
