Council Covid-19 vaccination tiff ends

Vusumuzi Dube, Online News Editor
AT least six Bulawayo City Council workers who reportedly refused to be vaccinated against the Covid-19 pandemic and have been on unpaid leave for the past 11 months breathed a sigh of relief after they were allowed to return to work.

The local authority was forced to lift the unpaid leave directive after noting that the country has no legislation on mandatory vaccination.

According to a council confidential report, in January, Bulawayo councillors passed a resolution and      subsequently penned a circular to the effect that all council employees had to be vaccinated against the pandemic and anyone who did not comply will be put on forced unpaid leave from 31 January.

“On 5 January 2022 it was resolved that council issues a circular requiring all employees to be fully vaccinated for Covid-19 by 31 January 2022 and that no employees shall be permitted to report for duty without proof of vaccination after 31 January.

“Council allowed those still considering to get vaccinated after the January deadline to take unpaid leave. To date six staff members had remained unvaccinated and were on unpaid leave. At the time of passing the resolution, Covid-19 was a real threat to employees’ safety and measures had to be put in place to ensure safe working conditions, however, the situation had changed and there was no legislation on mandatory vaccination,” reads the report.

With the unavailability on legislation on mandatory vaccination, the local authority has since resolved that the six return to work as of 1 December.

“It was therefore resolved that the six staff members who remain unvaccinated be recalled to work with effect from 1 December 2022, provided that they abide by Government and legal guidelines for unvaccinated people,” reads the report.

The move by the local authority comes at a time when the Government is calling on those that have not been  vaccinated to get their jabs, warning against complacency which has the risk of seeing the resurgence of cases in the country.

Speaking during a post-Cabinet briefing last Tuesday, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa said there was a need to safeguard citizens from contracting the pandemic.

“Cabinet wishes to encourage the nation to continue wearing face masks in enclosed public places.

“This measure is being implemented to safeguard citizens from contracting Covid-19 virus as the country is not completely out of the woods.

“In light of the upcoming festive season, Cabinet resolved on a number of strategies in order to ensure that the pandemic is kept under check, these inclusive of strengthening enforcement and adherence to World Health Organisation Covid-19 protocols; and strengthening the school surveillance system in preparation for the reopening of schools in January 2023,” she said.