OUTRAGE AS ZIM ASKS CITIZENS TO PAY FOR COVID-19 VACCINE THEMSELVES

HARARE - Zimbabweans were left outraged on Wednesday evening after a senior government official said citizens will have to pay for their Covid-19 vaccine shots.

The country, which recently said it had put together US$100 million for the procurement of vaccines for 60 percent of its population, is expecting to recover this money from citizens.

In an interview with Zimbabwe Television Network (ZTN), Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube said government will only cater for frontline workers and the most vulnerable members of society.

"Look, private citizens obviously would have to pay for the vaccine as we have maintained the vaccine is actually cheaper than some of the personal private equipment (PPE) that they are procuring.

"So, there will be some payment model so that government can recoup the cost of procurement."

Ncube said this help government will to also raise enough resources to cover the entire population beyond the 10 million herd immunity target.

"Paying something for the vaccine from private citizens is very important so that we can cover those who cannot afford at all," said Ncube.

He said the ministry of health will clarify those who would get the vaccine for free.

Some Zimbabweans took their outrage to Twitter questioning the rationale of making people pay for the vaccine.

Exiled former minister Professor Jonathan Moyo questioned the logic of making people pay and at the same time targeting to achieve herd immunity.

Lawyer and Kent Law School academic Alex Magaisa believes corrupt government officials will count themselves first among "the most vulnerable members of society."

However, others felt there was no need for government to subsidise citizens as the results of previous subsidies were the rapid decline in buying power of the local currency. – FIN24.