Informal traders in Bulawayo have called on authorities to establish more vaccination centres to decongest the existing ones and speed up the vaccination process.
The ten-day vaccination program commenced Tuesday after the government allocated 15 000 doses to informal traders around the city.
This was in response to advocacy done by informal traders associations to ensure that they get the vaccine to ensure they are protected from the virus.
To date, Covid-19 has claimed 2 029 lives and infected 62 383 people.ย
848 808 people have received the first dose of the vaccine while 584 770 have received the second dose.
CITE news crew spoke to informal traders at the Large City hall in the afternoon noted that the process was slow.
Marvellous Nyoni said she arrived at the Large City Hall at 6 AM and has been awaiting her turn for hours.
She said the process was a strain to her business as she had not worked all day.
“The process is very slow. At least they should have allocated more centres for us to get this crucial service. I have been here since early morning. They have only taken two batches of people, some of which were redirected to Princess Margaret clinic. At least if they can allocate more centres in the city centre it would be better,” she said.ย
Another informal trader, who only identified himself as Nare also noted that the longer the time they spend in queues, the more money they lose at their businesses.ย
Requirements for informal traders to be vaccinated include a national identity card, vending license/ current renewal receipt, flea markets should produce registers for their members.ย
Vaccination centres are Large City Hall, Renkini Terminus, Cowdray Park Bus Terminus, Lobengula Street/Third Avenue, Nkulumane Hall, Stanley Hall, Emganwini, Entumbane Complex and Bulawayo City Council (BCC) clinics.
