“As at yesterday, only 36 283 frontline workers had been
vaccinated with Sinopharm against a target of 100 000 people, with the majority
said to be sceptical of the efficacy of the drug donated by China,” reported
News Day.
To reach head immunity, Zimbabwe must vaccinate 10 million out of
its 15 million population. The fact that it is struggling to get the first 100
000 to come forward to take the vaccine speaks volumes of the public’s confidence
in the Sinopharm vaccine being offered. The vaccine has yet to be approved by
WHO.
Zimbabwe accepted Sinopharm vaccine because it was a free gift.
There are many other vaccines with WHO seal of approval on the
market. Zimbabwe should have sourced and paid for these vaccines. It seems the
country is totally reliant on free vaccines? You accept whatever you are given,
beggars are not choosers.
Why are we a nation of beggars?
The country is losing US$1.2 billion per annual to gold smugglers.
Two weeks ago, the nation learned V P Chiwenga unveiled his new “White House”
mansion.
“The cost of the new house runs into millions of dollars. The
source of Chiwenga's wealth remains a mystery,” reported The News Hawk.
“The breath-taking property was constructed in recent months by
Chinese nationals who fitted it with the latest technology to bolster the
security-conscious vice-president's safety.
“Dubbed "the White House", the awe-inspiring double-storey
mansion has a spectacular structure and the finest finishing; transcendental
decorative texture and optics all built by the Chinese.”
Of course, we know the source of VP Chiwenga’s wealth, his close
relationship with the Chinese dates back to his days in the army. The Zimbabwe
Defence Forces; together with the Police, CIO and a few others; was one of the
institutions to be issued the diamond mining concession in Marange and
Chiadzwa.
The concession allows the holder and their partner, the Chinese in
this case, to mine for diamonds and share to spoils without ever declaring
their earnings or paying any tax – no wonder the concessions have been dubbed “Open
licence to loot!”
VP Chiwenga and the top brass in the army were the beneficiaries.
And when he retired from the army to become VP arrangements were made to make
sure he continued to receive his share of the looted wealth.
VP Chiwenga is doubling up as Minister of
Health and therefore is aware the country has been slow in purchasing the corona
virus vaccines, assuming it has bought any, ostensibly because it did have the
money. And yet he was splashing millions of dollars, most of it in foreign
currency, on “latest technology and
finniest fittings” for his mansion.
"Covid-19 vaccines have been delivered to
Zimbabwe. These vaccines help minimise risk of infection and are being
administered all over Zimbabwe free of charge. So, get vaccinated now,” argued
President Mnangagwa.
“This is our stand against covid-19. Together,
we will conquer. Get vaccinated now."
He simply does get it!
Zimbabweans are as keen as anyone else the
world over to get the corona virus jab but not so keen to get this Sinopharm
vaccine only because it is yet to get WHO approval. Meanwhile, government
should be offering the people the other approved vaccines!
Zimbabwe is a wealthy nation; just needs to
stamp out corruption and other wasteful activities; and should not be rely on
begging, especially on critical matters like the corona virus vaccines. Why are
these common-sense arguments so alien and incomprehensible to this Zanu PF
regime!!!!
It is the stuff of nightmares to have a
corrupt, incompetent and utterly useless government during good times but when
there is a crisis like the corona virus pandemic the nightmare becomes a
catastrophe of Biblical proportion. Zimbabwe will be very lucky to reach the 10
million head immunity on donated vaccines by end of next year, 2022. Until
then, the country will be susceptible to a one wave after another of the corona
virus outbreak and God knows the economic and human price we will pay with each
pass.
MDC ALLIANCE NAMIBIA IS ABSOLUTELY GEARED TO CONVERGE FOR THE CHANGE THAT DELIVERS#AGENDA2021
ReplyDeleteMDC was launched in 1999 with the promise to deliver democratic changes, as the party name implied. To date, 21 years latter with 5 of which it was in the GNU, the party has failed to deliver even one token democratic change. Why has MDC members failed to take the party leaders to account on this?
Zanu PF members have followed the party blindly like sheep and have repeatedly failed to take Mugabe and the rest of the leadership to account even over such matters as the Gukurahundi massacres. Are we not fighting to end the Zanu PF dictatorship only to create another with the same blind followers?
MDC did not fail to deliver even one meaningful democratic change these last 21 years because the party was not “absolutely geared to converge for the change”. The members and the nation at large were geared for change but not the leaders and it is high time these leaders are held to account.
It is also high time that blind followers are held to account!
The blundering incompetence with which Zanu PF has handled the corona virus pandemic has caused many virus infections and deaths. The official covid-19 cases and deaths are one thing and the real figures are another.
ReplyDeleteThe regime’s failure to procure the corona virus vaccine is one blunder that is set to cost the nation greatly in terms of the economic disruption by the corona virus lockdowns, virus cases and deaths.
Ordinarily, Zimbabwe would have received a lot of donor assistance for both corona virus requirements such as PPE, test kits, ventilators and other materials including the vaccines plus financial assistance. Donors are pissed off to see Zimbabwe’s ruling elite building mansions and driving posh cars – proof this is very rich nation whose problem is corruption.
There is really no excuse why we, the people, have allowed such scourges as corruption to become such a serious problem. None! And now the nation is paying dearly for it, we are losing out from the looted wealth and from the disillusioned donors!
MDC leaders who were the 2008 to 2013 GNU should not condemn POLAD members for being greedy since they are the ones who did nothing during the GNU precisely because Mugabe had bribed them.
ReplyDeleteThe real reason why Chamisa and his MDC A friends did not join POLAD is because they wanted a hell lot more from Mnangagwa. Chamisa et al wanted Mnangagwa to create the Leader of Opposition and Shadow Cabinet positions complete with the ministerial limos, generous salaries and perks just as in the GNU days for him and his close friends.
Chamisa and his MDC A friends are hypocrites who want to pretend they care about the people and not about enriching themselves. They all participated in the July 2018 elections knowing fully well Zanu PF was rigging but also that Zanu PF would be giving away a few gravy train seats as bait for participating.
Chamisa and the rest in the opposition camp are all gearing to contest the 2023 elections, fighting each other for the bait gravy train seats, knowing doing so will give Zanu PF legitimacy. Chamisa and company are as much sell-out as those in POLAD asking for farms, cars and diplomatic passports!