Zimbabwe's Vaccine Requirements Add Difficulties to the Poor
2021-10-10
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1Zimbabwe is requiring its 500,000 government employees and several other groups to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
2This sets the southern African nation apart from nearly every other in Africa.
3Many African countries are having difficulties in getting enough shots.
4Zimbabwe said it has more than enough vaccines.
5The country bought most of them from China.
6The government says the difficulty has been the people's lack of trust in the vaccine.
7This is partly because they distrust the government.
8But Zimbabwe's plan is raising worrying questions about the rights of its citizens.
9Researchers at Johns Hopkins University record information about coronavirus infections around the world.
10They found that Zimbabwe has reported about 130,000 virus cases and about 4,600 deaths.
11Those numbers are likely to be too low.
12However, the virus has not affected Zimbabwe as strongly as other countries.
13This might add to the lack of urgency Zimbabweans have in getting vaccinated.
14Critics say that Zimbabwe's government is not able to administer the vaccination effort.
15Centers sometimes run out of the injections.
16And poor urban and rural areas have not received shots in recent months.
17The critics also say it is cruel to put at risk the livelihoods of people who are some of the world's most vulnerable.
18Dewa Mavhinga is the southern Africa director for Human Rights Watch.
19He said the government of Zimbabwe should first make sure that vaccines are equally available to all people before requiring them.
20Mavingha said distrust in the vaccine should be dealt with "in a way that builds public trust and confidence in the vaccines without the use of force."
21Rights activists describe Zimbabwe's government as authoritarian.
22It appears ready to continue enforcing its vaccine rules.
23The government already requires vaccines at religious places and has suggested extending the enforcement to public buses.
24Public buses are very important to the country's poor.
25Markets, which millions need to buy or sell goods, might also be restricted.
26Those measures would effectively make the vaccine a requirement for nearly all Zimbabwean adults.
27This includes the two-thirds of the working population who are unlikely to experience enforcement from their employers.
28Some Zimbabweans have waited hours only to be told their vaccination center was closing because of a lack of supplies or employees.
29People who can receive the second shot have also been turned away from centers which give preference to those seeking the first shot.
30However, new supplies of the vaccine have arrived recently and lines appear to be getting shorter.
31Around 15 percent of Zimbabwe's 15 million people are fully vaccinated.
32This is above the four percent for all Africans but far from the government's goal of 60 percent.
33The country has received 12 million shots.
34They are mostly the Chinese Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines, which require two shots.
35Johns Hopkins University has found that just over 5 million have been administered.
36Peter Mutasa is the president of Zimbabwe's largest labor organization.
37He said the government is to blame for not vaccinating enough people.
38"Workers have been trying to get vaccinated," he said.
39Mutasa's organization, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, is fighting enforcements for workers in court.
40It is one of the only organizations in the country to be publicly opposed to them.
41Other groups appear unwilling to speak out for fear of being considered anti-vaccine.
42Mutasa is not against the shots.
43He said connecting them to employment means jobs will be lost "unnecessarily."
44The economy collapsed just over 10 years ago with high levels of inflation.
45Nearly half of Zimbabwe's population lives on less than $1.90 a day.
46Dr. Agnes Mahomva is the chief organizer of the government's COVID-19 efforts.
47She defends the requirements, saying they are aimed at "protecting everyone."
48She argues that they remain voluntary in a way.
49"If one doesn't want to be vaccinated, no one is going to come to their house to grab them and vaccinate them," she said.
50But Mutasa noted that workers who truly need the money have "no way to say no."
51Acholo Jani repairs machines in Zimbabwe.
52He cannot go back to work until he is fully vaccinated.
53After waiting at first, he decided to get the shots.
54Until he is fully vaccinated, he is selling whatever he can on the streets to make some money while he does not receive his usual pay.
55"How are you going to survive without a vaccination card in this country?" he asked.
56I'm Gregory Stachel. And I'm Dan Novak.
1Zimbabwe is requiring its 500,000 government employees and several other groups to get vaccinated against COVID-19. 2This sets the southern African nation apart from nearly every other in Africa. Many African countries are having difficulties in getting enough shots. 3Zimbabwe said it has more than enough vaccines. The country bought most of them from China. The government says the difficulty has been the people's lack of trust in the vaccine. This is partly because they distrust the government. But Zimbabwe's plan is raising worrying questions about the rights of its citizens. 4Researchers at Johns Hopkins University record information about coronavirus infections around the world. They found that Zimbabwe has reported about 130,000 virus cases and about 4,600 deaths. Those numbers are likely to be too low. However, the virus has not affected Zimbabwe as strongly as other countries. This might add to the lack of urgency Zimbabweans have in getting vaccinated. 5Critics say that Zimbabwe's government is not able to administer the vaccination effort. Centers sometimes run out of the injections. And poor urban and rural areas have not received shots in recent months. 6The critics also say it is cruel to put at risk the livelihoods of people who are some of the world's most vulnerable. 7Dewa Mavhinga is the southern Africa director for Human Rights Watch. He said the government of Zimbabwe should first make sure that vaccines are equally available to all people before requiring them. 8Mavingha said distrust in the vaccine should be dealt with "in a way that builds public trust and confidence in the vaccines without the use of force." 9Rights activists describe Zimbabwe's government as authoritarian. It appears ready to continue enforcing its vaccine rules. The government already requires vaccines at religious places and has suggested extending the enforcement to public buses. Public buses are very important to the country's poor. Markets, which millions need to buy or sell goods, might also be restricted. 10Those measures would effectively make the vaccine a requirement for nearly all Zimbabwean adults. This includes the two-thirds of the working population who are unlikely to experience enforcement from their employers. 11Administering the Vaccine 12Some Zimbabweans have waited hours only to be told their vaccination center was closing because of a lack of supplies or employees. People who can receive the second shot have also been turned away from centers which give preference to those seeking the first shot. However, new supplies of the vaccine have arrived recently and lines appear to be getting shorter. 13Around 15 percent of Zimbabwe's 15 million people are fully vaccinated. This is above the four percent for all Africans but far from the government's goal of 60 percent. The country has received 12 million shots. They are mostly the Chinese Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines, which require two shots. Johns Hopkins University has found that just over 5 million have been administered. 14Debates on the vaccine 15Peter Mutasa is the president of Zimbabwe's largest labor organization. He said the government is to blame for not vaccinating enough people. 16"Workers have been trying to get vaccinated," he said. 17Mutasa's organization, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, is fighting enforcements for workers in court. It is one of the only organizations in the country to be publicly opposed to them. Other groups appear unwilling to speak out for fear of being considered anti-vaccine. 18Mutasa is not against the shots. He said connecting them to employment means jobs will be lost "unnecessarily." The economy collapsed just over 10 years ago with high levels of inflation. Nearly half of Zimbabwe's population lives on less than $1.90 a day. 19Dr. Agnes Mahomva is the chief organizer of the government's COVID-19 efforts. She defends the requirements, saying they are aimed at "protecting everyone." She argues that they remain voluntary in a way. 20"If one doesn't want to be vaccinated, no one is going to come to their house to grab them and vaccinate them," she said. 21But Mutasa noted that workers who truly need the money have "no way to say no." 22Acholo Jani repairs machines in Zimbabwe. He cannot go back to work until he is fully vaccinated. After waiting at first, he decided to get the shots. 23Until he is fully vaccinated, he is selling whatever he can on the streets to make some money while he does not receive his usual pay. 24"How are you going to survive without a vaccination card in this country?" he asked. 25I'm Gregory Stachel. And I'm Dan Novak. 26Farai Mutsaka reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 27_____________________________________________________________________ 28Words in This Story 29vulnerable - adj. easily hurt or harmed physically, mentally, or emotionally 30confidence -n. a feeling or belief that someone or something is good or has the ability to succeed at something 31authoritarian - adj. expecting or requiring people to obey rules or laws: not allowing personal freedom 32preference - n. an advantage that is given to some people or things and not to others 33grab - v. to quickly take and hold (someone or something) with your hand or arms