Zimbabwe’s Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Professor Mthuli Ncube has back tracked from his earlier statement where he said some Zimbabweans will be required to pay for Covid-19 vaccination.

His remarks came as Zimbabwe is expecting to take delivery of its first batch of COVID-19 vaccines from the People’s Republic of China.

Without specifying on the groups that were set to pay the Finance Minister had said payment was meant to enable the government to “recoup” procurement costs.

“Look, private citizens obviously would have to pay for the vaccines. Mthuli Ncube added that the payment is meant to enable the government to “recoup” costs of procurement. “Some groups” would be vaccinated for free.” Ncube was quoted by State Media

Recently, Ncube and George Guvamatanga, the permanent secretary in the Ministry he leads, announced that the country had mobilised about US$100 million for the purposes of procuring COVID-19 vaccine.

However, in a statement Ncube made a U-turn saying the statements were taken out of context.

“It has come to my attention that, my comments about the payment for the COVID-19 vaccine, have been taken out of context. I would like to make it clear that, the vaccines that the Government is procuring with the support of our international partners and friends, will be made available for free, to the Citizens of Zimbabwe” said the Finance Minister.