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Africa Moyo-Deputy News Editor

Civil servants unable to report for work because they are not vaccinated, will be deemed to be not working and so will not be paid for missed days under the new Government policy.

A directive has since been sent by the Public Service Commission (PSC) to all permanent secretaries and the Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Martin Rushwaya, to ensure that they facilitate the speedy vaccination of all outstanding civil servants so that this situation does not arise.

PSC Secretary Ambassador Jonathan Wutawunashe confirmed the triple policy that unvaccinated staff could neither work nor be paid, but that permanent secretaries had to make arrangements for the unvaccinated to get their jabs. 

Ambassador Wutawunashe said a statement circulating on social media was genuine. 

The statement is titled “Measures for Covid-19 containment within the Public Service.

“Reference is made to the Cabinet decision issued on Tuesday 14 September 2021 regarding measures for Covid-19 containment within the Public Service. 

“In line with the said Cabinet decision, all civil servants should be vaccinated without delay and unvaccinated members shall not be allowed to report for duty and will not be deemed to be working,” reads the statement.

“All heads of ministries are therefore urged to make arrangements for all civil servants under their jurisdiction to be vaccinated, and to explain to any who elect not to be vaccinated that they will not be deemed to be working.

“The PSC will continue to communicate any reviews as the situation is managed. 

“All ministries are urged to cooperate as we remain alert to combating this pandemic, which would be certainly overcome through adherence to conduct and protocols prescribed by Zimbabwe health authorities, as guided by the World Health Organisation,” he said.

On Tuesday, Cabinet resolved to bar all unvaccinated workers from reporting for work.

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said after the Cabinet meeting that following the previous announcement that all civil servants should be vaccinated, Cabinet further resolved that no unvaccinated civil servants will be allowed to come to work .

Globally, a number of organisations are demanding that employees be vaccinated if they wish to continue at work.

Recently, US news network CNN announced that it had sacked three employees for getting into an office without being vaccinated against Covid-19.

It is legal in the US for companies to demand that employees be vaccinated.

Other companies including Facebook and Google earlier said they would require that workers be vaccinated when offices fully reopen.

In May the US government said it was legal for employers to demand that workers attending the workplace in physically be vaccinated against Covid-19.

Top airlines such as Delta and United Airlines recently said they were requiring new employees to show proof of vaccination.

Companies say it was cheaper to get employees vaccinated than to foot their hospital bills.