…Chiwenga defies protocol, hundreds gather for cleanup campaign
TellZim Reporter
Vice president and Minister of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) Rtd General Constantino Chiwenga said the new Covid-19 Omicron variant has been discovered at Masvingo Teachers’ College where close to 150 student teachers tested positive to the disease recently.
However, Chiwenga went to gather hundreds of people in the industrial area on December 3 for the third anniversary of the cleanup campaign against the new regulations which limit the number of people gathering at an event.
Addressing people at the clean-up exercise, Dr Chiwenga said the nation is already experiencing a fourth wave of the pandemic after genomic tests confirmed the existence of the Covid-19 variant in Zimbabwe.
“Indications are that, the country is already in Covid-19 fourth wave. In fact, we have just finished the genomic sequencing and as I speak here in Masvingo, we have already established that the Omicron new variant is here from the genomic sequencing we did at Masvingo Teachers’ College.
“Let me also reiterate that, the entire world is still battling Covid-19 pandemic. The recently reported Omicron new variant in neighboring countries (Botswana and South Africa) is a great cause for concern,” said Dr Chiwenga.
He also highlighted that communities have developed higher levels of complacency as they tend to default on Covid-19 rules and regulations prescribed by the World Health Organization (WHO).
“The country has witnessed a high level of complacency amongst communities. Individuals are simply not paying attention to recommended Covid-19 prevention measures. With the recent spike in cases of Covid-19, prevention measures need to be undertaken,” he added.
“So let us all be aware, if we are to keep safe, I urge you all to get vaccinated and continue to uphold WHO and MoHCC safety protocols.
Chiwenga however, said the ministry of health is contemplating incorporating the younger generation from 12 year-olds as the country march towards achievement of herd immunity.
“We have enough vaccines to vaccinate everyone. Right now, we are vaccinating 16 year-olds and above. Sooner or later, we will be going to ages 12 and above. I want every one of you to get vaccinated so that when you are safe, the nation is also safe,” said Chiwenga.
Masvingo Teachers’ College recorded a higher number of Covid-19 within the first (Intake 16) and third (Intake 14) year student teachers.
Masvingo teachers is not the first time institutions of higher learning in the province have witnessed the spread of the pandemic after Bondolfi and Morgenster Teachers’ Colleges were closed in 2020 after a number of students tested positive to Covid-19.
The cleanup campaign was also attended by , Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira, Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement Minister Anxious Masuka, Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Munesu Munodawafa and various heads of government departments.
