The government has heightened measures aimed at averting the COVID-19 fourth wave by, among other things, restricting unvaccinated persons from accessing government buildings.
Health Minister, Silvia Masebo who announced the measures during a joint Covid 19 situation update yesterday, said the measures will come into effect on Tuesday, November 30th, 2021.
Ms. Masebo also announced that wearing masks in public places including bus stations and markets will be mandatory. The minister also announced that access to government buildings by anyone will require the production of a vaccine certificate.
Failure to wear a mask in a taxi or private vehicle will result in a fine of K250 and the owner of the vehicle will be fined K1,000
Social distancing should be followed.
The shopkeeper will be fined K2,500 for not wearing a mask in the shop, the shop owners will be fined K15,000 for not wearing a mask in the shop office, K20,000 fine for violating Covid rules in political meetings and programs.
Ms. Masebo said that it will be a requirement for civil and public service officers to be vaccinated for them to be admitted to work, but this will be done in consultation with Unions.
The Minister has said that all travellers coming from high-risk countries into Zambia will be quarantined for ten days at their own cost, while local authorities and the Zambia Police will continue with inspections for adherence to the Covid 19 guidelines.
And, Ms Maseba said the government will also roll out a national wide vaccination campaign that will target 2 million Zambians by Christmas Day.
And, Local Government Minister Gary Nkombo said that in the next 48 hours facilities will be provided to ensure that people have no excuse of not being vaccinated.
Mr Nkombo said in addition to observing the five golden rules all persons are required to mask up when entering the market and also bus stations.
And Information and Media Minister Chushi Kasanda said her ministry will ensure that vaccination points are made accessible for journalists.
Ms Kasanda said the ministry will ensure the right and factual information is given to the public over the Covid -19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, Transport and Logistics Minister, Frank Tayali said that it is imperative that Bus operators adhere to the Golden rules such as sanitizing their buses and even boarding passengers that are masked up.
Mr Tayali said that to ensure a smooth flow of Goods and Services, Screening at entry points will also be heightened.
Earlier, President Hakainde Hichilema directed the Ministry of Health to provide one million vaccines to all health care facilities countrywide.
President Hichilema has said that this is in view of the fourth wave which is coming. The President encouraged Zambians to get to the nearest health centre and get vaccinated this week.
President Hichilema said that getting vaccinated ensures those sick do not get severely sick with Covid -19 and can also help protect the people around, adding that it is time to protect the nation and that it has never been easier or safer to get vaccinated.
Why doesn’t govt name the countries which are high risk so people know if they will be subjected to quarantine or not? Are you afraid to say South Africa? What if I am traveling from Israel, Belgium, Namibia or Zimbabwe where do these countries stack up in your high risk categorization? Be clear ba New Dawn govt. Don’t leave things to people’s imagination.
Vaccinated people are still getting infected and dying. Why do they want to infringe on people’s rights?
Must show proof of vaccination before entering a “gov’t building”. Please clarify what you mean by that. Does it include Schools, Hospitals, Clinics, Police station, Universities? Or just Gov’t Office Buildings? This statement is too open and incomplete.
Please be specific. Otherwise people will die at hospital gates because of failure of proper leadership.
We cannot make new regulation and then say, “come to my office for clarification”. That’s irresponsible!
New faces, but same old, same old. -Sad.
Infringe on peoples rights ??
nonsense This Covid is serious and should be treated as such
more lunch money on the way for traffic police it seems
PF GRZ had ordered 4m doses of j&j which the new dawn cancelled because “coffers we’re empty”. So if that order had been upheld, couldn’t we be targeting 5m vaccinations??
“Failure to wear a mask in a taxi or private vehicle will result in a fine of K250 and the owner of the vehicle will be fined K1,000”
You are in your own car, driving by yourself, or indeed with your spouse and children, you should wear a mask, and if you don’t, the government will fine you?
Anyways, two years, grudge ichili pali two years, tuleya tulekula ka.
The disagreement among scientists is what’s causing people to avoid vaccines. Britain is one of the most vaccinated countries, in fact they even provided vitamin D supplements but they’re stiff scared about the 4th wave. The vaccine certificate is only valid for a year, so will be inoculated every year? Are vaccines interchangeable? If you got Astra Zeneca can you boost with Pfizer if the former isn’t available? But why are you forcing women that take their children for under 5 to get vaccines when you say it’s voluntary? Please make clear pronouncements. How did you arrive at the decision if you didn’t engage other stakeholders like Unions?
Is it any wonder that the NEW DARK government had to wait for the FALL OF DARKNESS to announce their new tough measures? When they were in opposition, everything the PF government did was scoffed at as an attempt to mask the alleged incompetence of their predecessors and to steal money from the donors. Now that they are in government Covid-19 has become real and they have to wait for the FALL OF DARKNESS to announce their new tough measures. They are so ashamed to hold their Covid-19 briefings during the day that they now have to choose the night time. It is like they were having a long nap during the day, woke up in the evening and realised they had to go before the public to announce their new measures. Could this all be an attempt by the NEW DARK government to steal money from the…
… donors and to hide their incompetence, especially that they are doing it at night?
I hope the government is going to do this legally. Guidelines are not the same as laws and citizens are not required to abide by guidelines. The Minister of Health should state under which Act or legislation these guidelines are being promulgated. If these guidelines are regulations, then inform us of the statutory instrument effecting them. Where civil rights are being curbed, there should be laws backing them instead of mere pronouncements or directives from the Minister of President.
Things must clarified properly madam,
If am with my family no need to pay that amount, it is like telling wear masks in your home?
Are animals or human beings?
Good move to be tough on Corvid
Guidelines. Even the rest of the
World is getting tough.why should
We not take it seriously?Even on
Vaccination we are very much
Slow .As most of our people have
Wrong perception on vaccines.
I watched the press briefing last night….oh my GOD!!!. It showed clearly that bunch of ministers had no clue about what they were talking about. I miss CHITALU CHILUFYA AND DORA . They provided leadership and direction over COVID………
So all truck drivers from South Africa will have to quarantine for 10 days at their cost?
I MISS CHITALU CHILUFYA!!
OUR PRESIDENT WILL NOW BE WEARING DOUBLE WHITE GLOVES!
BORED PEOPLE ON HERE
MAY COVID TAKE ITS TOLL TO WAKE SOME UP
Don’t I have a right to decide what I must allow into my temple.
Human bodies are soon to become chemical storages.
God made us pure of foreign things.
Look at how TB has messed us up.
So how many boosters will I be required to take in 10 yrs?.
African leaders implementing the speech of Boris J without evidence. Viruses will always have variants (spp) and we are going to make regulations for every specie that may evolve. infringement fees as if they are dreaming. These people!! Zambia remains a low or zero risk area suggesting that the regulatory measures in place are working. The intensification measures are ridiculous. Please Zambians let us NOT comply. If they force us let’s cane these politicians. Cost of living excruciating to a common Zambian but they are busy announcing what we don’t want to hear.
with all due respect Madam, Zambia is called a Christian Nation for a purpose. you can’t just override people’s rights, democracy is about ruling according to the majority citizens interests not your personal fears. You can’t force people to adhere to mandatory vaccination, you don’t have that right. the power you have was given to you by the pipo not to treat us like slaves to your decisions
I miss Chitalu Chilufya………
Nonsensical disproportionate measures. We told you that they were under 5s. You will regret it haha
Imwe mwefipumbu …There is nothing alarming about new variants!! I hope you have prepared well against cholera, malaria, dysentery etc…the issues impacting our communities.
No ways government cant infringe on my rights to force me to get vaccinates..On this one dont let us start thinking backwards on pf.Pf did not force us to get vaccinated. Now if am teacher and am not vaccinated and i dont want to be vaccinated will you fire me or retire me. Please handle the covid issues well..dont infringe on our rights.
What do you mean we cant enter government premises if not vaccinated?….Ensure people mask up but dont force vaccination.
This is my personal position..and am entitled to it
REACTIVE GOVERNMENT. TO GET TOUGH NIMWAMENE BUT KNOW WHERE TO GET TOUGH. YOU CANNOT RESTRICT PEOPLE FROM ACCESSING GOVERNMENT OFFICES UNTIL THEY ARE VACCINATED. OUR ZAMBIAN MINISTERS LACK STRATEGY. THEY ARE TOO REACTIVE. ANGOLA, WHOSE REGIME IS MORE AUTHORATIVE THAN ZAMBIA HAS HANDLED COVID 19 WELL.
FIRST ZAMBIA DOES NOT MANUFACTURE VACCINES. IT DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH FOR ALL ZAMBIANS. SECONDLY IT WILL BE LOGISTICALLY DIFFICULT AND LEAD TO CORRUPTION IN ITS IMPLEMENTATION.
COVID 19 IN ANGOLA IS NO LONGER SUCH A BIG THREAT. ANGOLA STRATEGY WAS SO STRICT AT BORDER ENTRY ESPECIALY AIRPORTS AND INCOUNTRY TRAVEL. ANGOLA IS ONE COUNTRY THAT IS QUICK TO BAN FLIGHTS FROM COUNTRIES THAT HAVE A HIGH RISK OF VIRUS. DURING THE HEIGHT OF COVID 19 ANGOLA AIRPORTS WERE CLOSED FOR 9…
This is very good but I will still point out how these people (Upnd) opposed every move PF goverment made to combat the pandemic. Mr Hichilema only got vaccinated after becoming president. Tells you a lot about people who ply the trade called politics.
We have heard so many rumours about these vaccines; side effects and stuff like that nowonder people aren’t willing to take these jabs.. just encourage masking up ms madam minister not those unreasonable fines you are talking about..
Great move by the government but somethings have to be done gradually and some can be with immediate effect e.g. mandatory masking in public places and in public transport and social distancing.
Just on 10 days quarantine, please revise that to 14 days because the virus’ incubation period is 10 and some people don’t show symptoms until day 11 hence 14 days is the safest plan that is why it is done that way in many countries.
Government is making right decisions on this and we commend them for that.
Madam minister noooo you missed the point.you cant force me to be vaccinated noo that is infringing on my rights….please it is too early to take zambians for granted..aweee ine nakana…no jab in my body…Apa pene twambe ukuchita miss ba pf?
A lady journalist flew from Zambia to Amsterdam via Joburg, got tested upon arrival and was positive for the omikron variant. It is already here.
In my own car with my family,ati you will fine me.. hahahhaaha..then come and fine me also at home….
Be serious dont let us think you are joking.please..
In my own car with my family,ati you will fine me if am not wearing a mask?.. hahahhaaha..then come and fine me also at home because we dont wear masks home…
Be serious dont let us think you are joking.please..
Legislate this. Not these lazy things of pronouncements and statutory instruments. We will sue you. A mambala.
WOMEN FIGHTING FOE HUMAN RIGHTS WHEN SEEKING ABORTION SERVICES, SAY ITS MY BODY. SO, THEY CAN ABORT. BUT CAN PEOPLE OR GOVERMENT INTRODUCE VACCINE CHEMICLES IN MY BODY WITHOUT ME? THEN ITS NOT MY BODY? THEN ITS NOT MY RIGHT? DOING WHAT PF NEVER DID ON MORAL GROUNDS LIKE FORCING VACCINATION, GAY RIGHTS, IS A DEFINITE ONE TERM FOR UPND. WE ARE ALREADY RE THINKING..
Vaccination unnecessarily , is stupidity at its climax
With this style of monkey-see monkey-do government , it will be careless and unpatriotic to allow UPND a full term.
Chilonda chilipamuzako sichibaba( The wound on your friend isn’t painful). Ba H.H when PF was busy saying there is Covid-19 the new down team was
busy saying that it’s a total lie and the government was busy trying to fundraise money for their campigns. It’s so shameful that the same new down president who was in forefront leading his team that ba PF were telling lies that there was Covid-19 is the one who is standing stronger than the PF and putting measures that do not have any meaning. Let’s learn to follow issues and not becoz we are a cloud puller we bubble anything watch out. Now look at the way you are being exposed within a shortest period of time. Tell what kind of confidence should we shamelessly. Am not a politician but the wind is blowing against your direction. Lets put…
On drivers????? More specially cross border drivers, we shouldn’t forget the fact that we are a Land locked Country and we depend on imports, the new down hope you had put this into consideration. Ti kambepo pali Fuel already we are down, but waiting for uplift of pump price
The so called scientists don’t know if the current vaccines are effective against this new Variant Omicron and the minister is advising people to be vaccinated with a vaccine that may not protect you. You’ve got to be out of your mind to even go ahead and be vaccinated. Mandatory vaccinations will not work on Zambia and must be opposed by every right thinking Zambians.
Bally’s democracy…
Dear UPND. Don’t assume Zambia loves you that much. They loved you during elections. But perceptions are quickly changing.
Enforce, and there will be riots.
To whom it may concern,
Dear Sir/Madam,
Re: your measures against covid-19
As per subject, the measures you are putting are not right e.g in a taxi passengers without masks you want to charge k250 and charging the owner k1000 for what? This is an acceptable, you are just trying to milk the citizens?
You don’t even have sympathy on Zambian citizens, look even at other charges no covid-19 or in covid-19 situation, charges or prices they are just the same, e.g look at ZRA charges taxis still pay the same amount, you don’t even reduce due to covid-19, do you really consult to other stakeholders before announcing anything?
I know what you want is everyone to be vaccinated but that is not the way you should take things?
What is exactly happening to covid-19 situation?
in…
“He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads,
and that no one may buy or sell except one who has [a]the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” [Revelations 13:16,17]…NKJV
These are characteristics of the “beast” who is to come on this earth. It will not count whether a person is very great in anything or is very rich by what measure or whatever status a person occupies in society, he (the “beast”) will force them that they comply (forcing compliance) in receiving the mark else they should not be allowed to carry out with business (selling or buying). This does not spare workers (employees) because them working and receiving salary means they are selling their services (working) and…
The announced covid restrictions require further clarity… So if you vaccinated and test negative, you still get quarantined just like covid positive person and unvaccinated for 10 days. Everyone is put in the same bucket.. where is the science to assist with categories …These look like copy and paste rules
Mark of the beast1
WHERE ART THOU COVID ??
ONLY FULL AND OVERFLOWING MORTUARIES WILL WAKE US UP
The fruit of the USA trip is finally here. Comply or die
Dividing your people thinking you are fighting covid is weakedness because you will never yield desired results. We have people not vaccinated for various reasons and just because you got a shot you think you made a wise decision. Think twice or you will cry.
This is the worst DICTATORSHIP Zambia has never seen.
These chaps are now saying it’s mandatory to get vaccinated.
Nonsense.
This is the worst DICTATORSHIP Zambia has never seen.
These chaps are now saying it’s mandatory to get vaccinated.
Non.sense.
So they want people to show vaccination certificates within 2 days but they are still planning to vaccinate the majority… what will happen to them while they wait for vaccination?
This is the w.or.st DICT.ATOR.SHIP Zambia has ever seen.
These c.ha.ps are now saying it’s mandatory for someone to get vaccinated.
Non.se.n.se.
It’s evident Masebo is well over her head but the pronouncements are ok. By the way, you HR buffs, there’s something called ‘public health’. These are measures taken for the public good. This is similar to isolating people with highly infectious diseases like TB, Ebola, polio. Your personal rights are set aside for the PUBLIC GOOD. Vaccines, masks etc are public health measures. Please. Just comply and we’ll beat this COVID.
Looks like UPND are either day dreaming or just lack the capacity to reason. We are getting tired of this circus. They may have meant well on this one but went overboard to even disrespect our rights.
Can you imagine sure!!
This is a knee jerk reaction from Up and Down Party.
The end of the world is coming weather we complain or not this what the Bible is telling us…