Calvin Manika
MANY Hwange residents are still shying away from being vaccinated three months after the government rolled out the vaccination programme as part of the fight against the deadly Covid-19 pandemic.
This also comes at a time Hwange’s neighbour Victoria Falls was the recently the first to reach herd immunity. Zimbabwe has since clocked half a million mark in the vaccination drive.
Speaking to the Zambezi Times Greater Hwange Residents Trust coordinator Fidelis Chima said it was high time the people of Hwange consider getting the jab to protect themselves from the deadly virus.
Chima said conspiracies theories surrounding the vaccines were still dominating among the residents.
“The myth that vaccination is related to Satanism should be dismissed with the contempt that it deserves,” Chima said.
Residents who spoke to this publication said most of the information they are receiving from different sources was making them to refrain from taking the jab.
“Some are saying once one is vaccinated he will not live long and there is also an issue of blood clotting, so we are afraid. I would rather wear a face mask and sanitise,” said Mike Ncube of Lwendulu village.
In Empumalanga suburb residents said it seems the government efforts to debunk the myths around the vaccine is being over challenged by the unfounded conspiracies making rounds on social media.
“I think government’s efforts to inform us is limited to adverts and few programmes at a time misinformation is in full drive discouraging people to be inoculated,” said Tawanda Tshuma.
Residents who have been vaccinated said it was important for Hwange people to receive the jab for personal protection, boosting of the tourism industry and investor confidence.
Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs minister Richard Moyo has been in the forefront advocating for people to get vaccinate.
Hwange District Medical Officer could not be reached at the time of writing to avail Covid-19 statistics and the vaccination programme.
Meanwhile 1399 infections have been recorded so far with 1298 recoveries, 82 active cases and 19 deaths in the whole province.
