ZIMBABWE: Miners call for mobile Covid-19 vaccination sites

By: Ollus Ndomu

Zimbabwean miners have called on the government to put in place mobile Covid-19 vaccination sites at various mining sites to avoid work interruptions which continue to affect production.

The Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Minerals Workers Union (ZDAMWU) General Secretary, Justice Chinhema, said in an interview with local media that workers were losing productive time in Covid-19 queues.

With government force-matching civil servants to take the jab, some mines across the country are reportedly demanding that all their workers be fully vaccinated or risk losing their jobs.

“Zdamwu is pro vaccination and we are encouraging workers to get vaccinated. Further instead of forcing workers , the mines must prioritize awareness campaigns . People are receiving a lot of fake news through social media and it is our request that mines work with us in educating workers. Instead of putting those restrictions which are meant to force workers, we must work towards awareness to workers, their families as well as communities,” said Chinhema.

Chinhema further urged mines to make arrangements with government so that challenges miners are facing can be resolved amicably.

“We are also urging the mines to make arrangements with the ministry of health to bring the vaccination at the mines rather than workers spending time looking for vaccination centers, Mine workers are losing productive time in vaccination queues. We are therefore, calling for mobile vaccination to be introduced in mining sites. Mining is a critical economic sector and there mustn’t be any disruptions to production,” he said.

The Zimbabwean government has maintained its position on the must-worker Covid-19 vaccination.