(Last Updated on January 22, 2021 by GERALD NCUBE)
HARARE – Opposition MDC Alliance vice president Tendai Biti has blasted the Emmerson Mnangagwa led government for it’s failure to come up with a comprehensive Covid-19 response plan.
Commenting on his Twitter, Biti said the country was facing a ‘plan-demic’ noting that no funds were set aside for the procurement of vaccines in the latest Budget presented late last year by Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube.
“With compatriots dropping like flies,its shocking that regime has no plan or program for COVID vaccines. Insanely the 2021 budget failed to provide any funds for vaccine purchases So Zim suffers from misgovernance. Other countries face pandemics Zim faces a plan-demic,” wrote Biti.
Last week, vice president Constantino Chiwenga who also heads the Health Ministry said the country was monitoring the vaccine developments in other countries before they make any decisions.
“I am also aware that some of our citizens are anxious to get vaccinated. The Government is following the development and dissemination of COVID 19 vaccines by other states, with keen interest. Despite the observations made that other African, European and Asian countries had started rolling out vaccines, Zimbabwe adopted a measured approach, with experts interrogating all safety concerns.
“As soon as all technical and administrative obligations are met, Zimbabweans can expect to be vaccinated. The vaccination is going to be voluntary. Let me underscore that my Ministry is doing everything possible to ensure that our citizens are safe from possible side effects of some COVID 19 vaccines, currently on the shelf,” he said.
As of 21 January 2021, the country has recorded 30 047 positive cases and 917 deaths