The transport company allegedly sent WhatsApp messages to
members of the staff on Tuesday evening requesting them to bring their Covid-19
vaccination cards and national identity cards before they are allowed to resume
their duties.
To date, 955 656 people have received their first dosage of
the vaccine while 619 883 have received both doses.
Zupco conductors who spoke to CITE on condition of
anonymity said when they reported for duty on Wednesday, they were notified
that all those who have not been vaccinated would not be allowed to work.
“The messages that they sent us were informing us to bring
both vaccination and national identity cards. They also stated that those who
haven’t been vaccinated should report to the Kelvin depot,” said one employee.
“When we got to work in the morning there was a sign at the
ticket office stating that ‘NO ID, NO VACCINE, NO JOB.’ They told us that only
those with vaccination cards would be allowed to collect ticket books and
report for duty.”
The source said after those with vaccination cards had
left, their supervisors told them that they would be marked absent on the work
register.
“The dispatcher and yard supervisor instructed us to write
down our names, work numbers and ID numbers on sheets of paper which they said
would be taken to HR. They said all those without vaccination cards would not
be marked present. According to company policy, if one is marked absent for 5
consecutive days their contract gets terminated.”
Another source said the conduct of the management was very
insensitive as they did not make an effort to seek reasons why the employees
have not yet been vaccinated.
“Their decision was sudden and insensitive, they could have
conducted this in a better way. It’s like we are being forced to get
vaccinated. When this vaccine was first introduced the government said those
who want can get it. It was never a forced matter,” said the source.
“Some of us have health conditions. I personally react to
certain drugs hence my resistance to get vaccinated, but they do not care about
all that. If anything happens to my health they will not assist m Zupco acting
chief executive officer, Everisto Madangwa dismissed claims that they were
forcing the employee to get vaccinated.
Madangwa explained that the company has, since the rollout
of the campaign in April, been encouraging its members of staff to get
vaccinated since they interact with people on a daily basis.
“Noone is being forced to take the vaccine. We are only
encouraging our employees to take it as soon as possible. We actually started
this campaign around April when the vaccination program was introduced. Seeing
the upsurge of figures of Covid-19 cases of late, we saw it fit to intensify
our campaign,” said Madangwa.
“We ferry members of the public on a daily basis. We must
ensure that our passengers are safe. The vaccine will also protect the members
of staff themselves. We are faced with a situation where we have to make a
choice to ensure that both our clients (passengers) and our staff are safe from
the virus.”e in any way, they wouldn’t care.” Cite.org.zw
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