Health Correspondent

Traditional healers have urged people to embrace the COVID-19 vaccines to protect themselves from the deadly pandemic that has ravaged the entire world.

Popular Harare traditional healer, Sekuru Amos Kafera, who took his vaccine jab yesterday, said COVID-19 is a reality and people should get immunized.

“I was afraid to remain home and not get the jab just because I am a traditional healer. I then chose to get vaccinated so that I can get immunity from the disease. I urge my fellow traditional healers in Zimbabwe to get vaccinated so that we are all immunized from the disease,” said Sekuru Kafera.

Sekuru Kafera added that he interacts with a lot of people and he chose to get vaccinated to protect himself from COVID-19.

“COVID-19 does not respect your profession. Whether you are a sangoma or not, you can still get the disease. I urge my fellow traditional healers, their helpers and their families to get inoculated,” said Sekuru Kafera.

Apostolic sect leader Strive Masango, popularly known as Madzibaba Masango, also said those who are still shunning the COVID-19 vaccines are misinformed.

“People who are shunning the COVID-19 vaccines are misinformed. If we dream of ever going back to our normal lives, then we should embrace the vaccines. Medical science and the prophetic works together and as prophets we are urging people to be vaccinated against the COVID-19 disease.

“Church leaders should lead by example so that people can be vaccinated. The continued denial of the COVID-19 vaccines by some church leaders is unsubstantiated. I encourage Zimbabweans to take the vaccination programme seriously since it is the way to fight the pandemic,” said Masango.

As of yesterday, the country had 38 102 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 35 149 recoveries and 1 560 fatalities. To date, a total of 353 834 people have been vaccinated against COVID-19.