94 percent of restaurant workers in Harare vaccinated

Herald Correspondent

More than 270 restaurant staff from across Harare have received their first Covid-19 vaccinations in a special day session organised by the Restaurant Operators’ Association of Zimbabwe (ROAZ).

This brings to almost 1 000 the number of staff of ROAZ members in Harare alone with one or two vaccinations to date, in a drive to support the national effort to get all Zimbabweans vaccinated.

The day session was arranged by ROAZ vice president Ms Karen Mutasa, who has been closely involved in a number of anti-Covid-19 initiatives since the outbreak of the pandemic early last year.

“Restaurants around the country have been responding positively to the call by the Government for people to be fully vaccinated and ROAZ wanted to increase that level of support with a day session that would enable as many staff as possible to receive their first jabs,” she said.

“These first-timers will receive their second jabs in a few weeks’ time and will join the many other restaurant staff around Zimbabwe who are fully vaccinated.”

Ms Mutasa said feedback from ROAZ members showed that about 1 000 workers in the sector now had first or second-time vaccination, which is about 94 percent of staff totals.

“ROAZ applauds restaurant operators for encouraging staff to join the national drive and we also thank the staff themselves for being co-operative and supportive,” she said.

ROAZ paid tribute to the Ministry of Health and Child Care for sending a team of nurses to the day-long vaccination session, which took place in safe conditions at Ms Mutasa’s Organikks Restaurant in Chisipite.

Staff came in from member restaurants on a pre-booked schedule and the operation was conducted smoothly and successfully.

The association is at present working in partnership with the Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe, the Tourism Business Council of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority to advocate for the reopening of restaurants to sit-down diners.

At present, restaurants are able only to serve takeaway or delivery food, but ROAZ has shown through research that this is unsustainable for the trade.

“Our vaccination programme complements the other measures undertaken by restaurants to provide safe venues for diners, and we are working hard to have restaurants reopened in safe but welcoming conditions,” said Ms Mutasa, who is a trustee of Solidary Trust Zimbabwe, a leading healthcare body.

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