Zimbabwe Apostolic Families Living In Mountains To Avoid Immunisation

Heya Shoko, legislator for Bikita West Constituency, who is part of the committee that visited the Masvingo Province, said an apostolic leader in Bhasera, Gutu nearly killed health officers who had visited his home wanting to vaccinate his children last Wednesday.

“Last week health officers in Gutu had to flee for dear lives after a leader of an apostolic sect chased them with knives and machetes,” said Shoko.

Blessing Chebundo, legislator for Kwekwe Central, who is leading the committee in the southern part of the country said his team was shocked by the primitive behaviour being displayed by some of the apostolic followers.

Chebundo and other five legislators went to Chivi and tried to persuade the religious fanatics but their visit could not yield any result as the church fans refused to move from the mountains and meet the parliamentarians.

“We are still shocked to learn that some people have gone to live in mountains to evade immunisation against deadly measles disease. The people in Chivi should be persuaded to have their children immunised otherwise measles will continue to be a serious problem. We went there and tried to convince them that there is nothing evil about having their children immunised but they refused to give us an ear.

“As we are speaking they are still in mountains,” Chebundo said.

The parliamentary committee said Masvingo was among the most affected province.

“We have been to Manicaland and we are going to Matebelalnd North and South  but so far Masvingo is the most affected in as far as measles
immunisation is concerned,” added Chebundo.

Since February, Zimbabwe has recorded over 7 000 cases of measles and about 400 deaths.