Zimbabwe reopens bars, but only for vaccinated drinkers

By FARAI MUTSAKA
Associated Press

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Zimbabwe is allowing bars to reopen for the first time in more than a year, but only fully vaccinated people will be allowed to buy a swig. The southern African country closed pubs and nightclubs in March 2020 as part of restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19 and had ignored pleas by owners to ease the restrictions to rescue their collapsing businesses. Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the decision to open pubs and nightclubs was out of “concern” that “the continued closure of licensed bars and nightclubs has caused not only a loss of income and unemployment but also resulted in the mushrooming of illegal outlets.”