Zimbabwe’s Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Professor Mthuli Ncube has revealed that Zimbabweans will be required to pay for the Covid-19 vaccination.

Speaking during an interview with ZTN News, Professor Mthuli Ncube said that the vaccination for the pandemic will not be entirely free.  He revealed that some Zimbabweans will be required to pay for the Covid-19 vaccination so that government can recoup its cost.

“Private citizens will have to pay for the vaccine,”

“The vaccine is actually cheaper than some of the personal protective equipment that we are procuring. There will be some payment model so that government can recoup the cost of procurement,” said Mthuli Ncube.

Finance minister Mthuli Ncube said while frontline workers and vulnerable groups will be covered, “private citizens” will however be required to pay to receive the vaccination so that government can recoup its costs.

Ncube also revealed that this would also help the Government to raise enough resources to cover the entire population and ensure that everyone is vaccinated.

“It will be nice to cover everyone beyond the 10 million (targeted under the US$100 million facility), we want to cover the entire population. So really paying something for the vaccine from private citizens is very important so that we can cover those who cannot afford it at all.”

“But there will be some groups that will be given the vaccine for free. The health ministry will clarify all these issues and reveal how different groups within the country will be treated regarding the vaccination,” he added.

Meanwhile, the two-course vaccine which is yet to be acquired from China and Russia will cost between $2.50 and US$7 per jab.