43 Chivhu Vendors Vaccinated, "Some Against Their Will"
Forty- three vendors were vaccinated against COVID-19 at the Chivhu Town Rank on Friday and some against their wish, Masvingo Mirror reported.
The vendors were inoculated following an order given by the Deputy Minister of Health and Childcare, John Mangwiro.
Mangwiro gave the instruction when he attended a function at Chivhu District Hospital where he received personal protective equipment (PPEs) from Chandiwana Foundation.
He reportedly said all vendors must be vaccinated in order to keep trading. Mangwiro also warned farmers that they will not be allowed to deliver their maize to the Grain Marketing Board if they were not vaccinated. He said:
We want to make sure that every vendor is vaccinated because they mix with different people when selling their products.
Our District Taskforce and Joint Operations Command (JOC) should make sure that this is enforced immediately.
Masvingo Mirror was told by several vendors that they were being vaccinated against their will because they wanted to save their jobs.
The vendors, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, said that a team from Chivhu District Hospital arrived and told them that there was an instruction to vaccinate all of them.
One of the vendors, who preferred to be named Mai Tee, said she was left with no choice after the instruction was given for them to be vaccinated. She said:
I have no choice my son, We were told that if we are not vaccinated we would be chased from our markets.
We just followed the instruction for us to continue doing business. We have families to look after.
Before I got the jab I just said… So help me God…
