PRESIDENT Mnangagwa and members of the Cabinet will take the lead and get vaccinated when the second batch of vaccines are delivered in the country in the next two weeks.
This follows the donation of 200 000 more vaccines by China
which has also availed 1,8 million doses of vaccines for purchase by
Government.
When the first batch of 200 000 doses of vaccines donated
by China arrived in the country recently, President Mnangagwa, assigned his
deputy Dr Constantino Chiwenga, who is also the Minister of Heath and Child
Care, to lead the vaccination programme by taking the first jab.
Speaking at the commissioning of Epping Forest Water Supply
Augmentation Project for Bulawayo and ground-breaking ceremony of the
Gwayi-Shangani-Bulawayo pipeline project in Nyamandlovu, Umguza District,
Matabeleland North yesterday, President Mnangagwa encouraged Zimbabweans to
take up the vaccination.
“Last week saw the roll-out of the first phase of our
National Covid-19 vaccination programme which targets frontline workers, the
security sector, the elderly and those with underlying conditions,” said
President Mnangagwa before requesting VP Chiwenga, who was in attendance, to
join him on the podium.
“Social media was saying the leadership will not be
vaccinated, on that particular day, we had various engagements, so I called my
Minister and Vice President to get the first jab so that you know that the vaccine
is safe. Ivaccine leyi iright, liyithathe.
“The Vice President of the country had the first jab and he
is still here. My Cabinet and myself in two weeks when the next consignment
comes, we will be vaccinated,” said the President.
He assured the nation that more vaccines are coming and
people will have the chance to be vaccinated.
The President said on Wednesday afternoon, he got
communication from Chinese President Xi Jinping through his ambassador to
Zimbabwe that the country was donating an additional 200 000 Covid-19 vaccines
to Zimbabwe, bringing the total donation to 400 000 doses.
“The Ministry of Health supported by (Finance Minister
Professor Mthuli) Ncube also bought two sets yesterday, 600 000 doses which
will come during the first two weeks of March and another 1,2 million doses,”
said President Mnangagwa as he reiterated that the vaccines are free.
“There are so many companies that have come forward who
want to import the vaccines and sell them, we have said no. If any company buys
vaccines, they must be distributed freely.”
President Mnangagwa expressed gratitude to China for the
donation of vaccines saying procurement plans of other vaccines from India and
Russia were at an advanced stage.
“Meanwhile, let us mask up Zimbabwe and continue to adhere
to the laid down health protocols,” said the President.
He called on Zimbabweans to remain vigilant in the fight
against Covid-19 saying he was pleased that the country’s prevention measures
were showing good results. Herald
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