The Zimbabwean government on Tuesday announced that it will stop salaries to staff members who are unvaccinated against COVID-19, reported CGTN Africa. All vaccinated government people have been asked to report for work at their offices with immediate effect, after more than a year of working from home.
In recent weeks, Zimbabwe has relaxed restrictions on public gatherings as cases of the omicron variant appear to have started receding.
According to the notice by the Public Service Commission, which is in charge of employment conditions for government workers, staff members without proof of vaccination will be barred from their workplaces, face disciplinary proceedings, and forfeit their pay. Those who cannot be vaccinated on medical grounds should provide an exemption certificate from a medical practitioner.
Notably, in September last year, the Zimbabwean government had ordered all its 500,000 workers to get vaccinated against the virus. But, the country’s largest labor group has gone to the courts to challenge vaccine mandates imposed by the government and private employers.
On Tuesday, Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the government has also ordered the re-opening of all ports of entry with immediate effect.
Addressing reporters after a cabinet meeting on Tuesday in Harare, Mutsvangwa said travelers will be required to present a valid negative coronavirus test that is not more than 48 hours old to enter the country.
About 22% of Zimbabwe’s 15 million people have received two shots of vaccines and the government has introduced booster jabs for those interested.
Last year the Zimbabwean health authorities also rolled out vaccinations for children aged 16 years and older, saying it has acquired enough vaccines, mainly Sinopharm and Sinovac from China. The government had aimed to vaccinate more than 60% of the population by the end of 2021 and is now trying to reach that goal in 2022.
