STAFF WRITER
CONTROVERSIAL Bulawayo based prophet Mduduzi Dube has waded into the highly discoursed Covid-19 vaccine saga advising the nation to freely take the inoculation as it was the best way to curb the spread of the ravaging pandemic.
The assertion by Dube popularly known as Black Elisha in religious circles comes at a time government is battling conspiracy theories and myths surrounding the new vaccine which is set to be “soon” in the country.
As if that is not enough, men of the cloth have refused to be left out proffering contradicting messages over the use of the vaccine with others denouncing it, and others issuing a green light.
However, 84-year-old Pope Francis was one of the first clerics to recently get early jab.
Back home, Black Elisha says he will also lead by example if the vaccine is rolled out.
“In my several prayers, I have been shown that, contrary to what other people are telling us, the vaccine is clean and efficient and people should take it without fear or what.
“I won’t be just preaching what I don’t practice, given a chance if the vaccine is rolled out in Zimbabwe, I was going to be one of the first people to take the first jab in Zimbabwe,” the Black Elisha said.
He however added that people should support the government in its endeavour to ensure that Covid- 19 was brought under control.
“We need to pray, this is a collective effort, government alone won’t win this us, and we need to complement its efforts. This disease is demonic; we can’t watch while it wipes a generation, we need to take stand against it.”
With Covid-19 continuing to claim lives including those of top government officials, President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Saturday pinned his hope on the coming vaccine during his State of the Nation Address (Sona)
“Government has and is engaging countries which have developed vaccines. Help and relief are on the way. Our experts who have been assessing different vaccines are very close to finalising the course to recommend to our nation. A course which brings in relief and which we will roll out across the length and breadth of our nation, so we do not lose more lives than has become inevitable. A course which makes sure the vaccines we reintroduce in our bodies are both safe and effective,” Mnangagwa said.
