Midlands State University (MSU) has imposed a mandatory vaccination policy on its students following a surge in COVID-19 cases and an outbreak of a new variant.
In a notice to students dated December 3, 2021, MSU Deputy Registrar (Academic Affairs) Kudzaishe Mudzingwa said unvaccinated students will be expected to take a COVID-19 PCR test twice a week.
Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) secretary-general Tapiwanashe Chiriga said the move is discriminatory.
“Our position remains as it has always been. While we encourage students to get vaccinated, the right to accessible and affordable education cannot be determined by vaccination status,” Chiriga said.
Chiriga said command vaccination will fuel illegal activities such as forgery of vaccination cards
“This has only one effect, the forging of vaccination cards which is unfortunate,” he warned.
Several private boarding schools in and around Harare have closed and sent students home after an alarming increase in confirmed Covid-19 cases at the learning institutions.
Last week, over 100 students at Masvingo Teachers’ College tested positive for the virus while at Lupane State University (LSU) 50 students tested positive for Covid-19.
The rise in confirmed cases has resulted in panic in schools.
