(Last Updated on February 6, 2021 by GERALD NCUBE)
HARARE – Government has appealed to the corporate sector and citizens to donate towards the purchasing of the Covid-19 vaccine, barely a week after Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube claimed that treasury had set aside US$100 million to fund the purchase of the vaccine.
“Following constructive engagement between Government, Private sector and well-wishing Citizens, in the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines. Government welcomes and appreciates the offer by the private sector to complement Government:s resource commitment by contributing it’s own resources towards the effort.
“It is in this context that Government is announcing this broader private sector initiative to the corporate sector, citizens and other well-wishers to contribute financially and or otherwise towards the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines,” said Prof Ncube.
Ncube last week sparked controversy when he was quoted in State media saying citizens will be required to pay for their vaccine jabs.
However, Vice President and Health Minister Constantino Chiwenga later dismissed these reports and Prof Ncube also made a U-turn on his earlier statements.
Following the release of the statement appealing for donations, many social media users quizzed Prof Ncube about the surplus budget he always talks about. Ncube is well known for claiming that the country now has a budget surplus as a result of policy measures he has implemented.
Zimbabwe is set to receive over 1 million doses from the WHO-led COVAX scheme while China has also pledged to donate some of it’s vaccine.