CDEDI advocates for“no vaccine no work’ policy

Blantyre,30 august 2021, Mana: Centre for Democracy and Economic Initiatives (CDEDI) has given the Ministry of health a seven-day ultimatum to give policy direction on ‘no vaccine-no work’ policy some employers are implementing.

The body’s Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa said this in a statement released on Monday.

The development follows what the organization says is continued implementation of the policy in some public and private institutions.  

“Both the public and private institutions are currently outclassing each other by imposing mandatory COVID-19 testing and vaccination contrary to what the ministry announced.

“Malawians would like to know as to where these institutions are getting the mandate to impose the COVID-19 mandatory testing and vaccination from,” said Namiwa.

He applauded how the President Dr Lazarus Chakwera is running a transparent and accountable government urging the Ministry of Health to follow suit.

“The ministry of health should be very open, clear and consistent on any policy changes, as long as it is done in good faith and in the best interest of the people of Malawi,” said Namiwa.

Commenting on the development Public Relations Officer for the Ministry of Health Adrian Chikumbe distanced the ministry from the said policy. 

“I wonder why CDEDI are bringing this up because as a Ministry we have already made it clear that we are not forcing anyone to get vaccinated. A person has a right to accept or refuse vaccination.

“All we do is provide information on the benefits of getting the vaccine or the COVID-19 test and also the risk’s that are there if they have not accessed the vaccine, so it is up to the people to take it or not,” said Chikumbe.

Recently the Malawi Electrol Commission announced that its workers who have not been vaccinated should not report for work at the office but rather work from home.