BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI
Zimbabwe has re-opened churches only for fully vaccinated congregants as the country tries to push its Covid-19 vaccination rates amid vaccine hesitancy.
Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa told journalists on Wednesday that church goers now have to produce proof that they were vaccinated before they are allowed to join services.
“Cabinet wishes to inform the public that churches can now allow sit-in congregants under the following conditions: only congregants who have received two doses of the vaccine are allowed to attend,” Mutsvangwa said.
“(That) all Ministry of Health and Child Care and World Health Organisation protocols are adhered to, and (that) all those found in breach will be arrested, including the leaders of the churches.”
Some church leaders in Zimbabwe have been discouraging their followers from taking the Covid-19 vaccines, citing conspiracy theories.
One of the church leaders with a huge following, Emmanuel Makandiwa, was recently forced to retract his statements discrediting Covid-19 vaccines.
Makandiwa encouraged his followers to take the vaccines to save their lives.
Mutsvangwa said the national Covid-19 vaccination coverage now stood at 22.3 percent and 12.3 percent for the first and second doses, respectively.
“Vaccination in border towns, other hotspots and peoples’ markets is progressing as scheduled,” she said.
“The vaccination programme will be ramped up in provinces with low uptake such as Mashonaland Central and Mashonaland West provinces, and Chitungwiza where progress has been slow.”
Mutsvangwa said government had given the nod to private companies, hotels and other institutions to get vaccines from the Health and Child Care ministry for their staff.
“This is on the proviso that they seek authority from the Ministry for qualified persons to conduct the vaccination of their staff and or patrons,” she said.
“Special care should also be taken to ensure that standard equipment is used for vaccination. “