Nevanji Munyaradzi Chiondegwa
The donation of 10 million Covid-19 vaccines from President Xi Jinping of China, comes at a critical time for our country as we battle the Omicron Variant which threatens to erode the gains recorded in the fight against Covid-19 and the strides towards achieving national herd immunity.
These were the words of President Mnangagwa recently at The State House where he received a batch of four million Sinopharm and six million Sinovac Vaccines donated to Zimbabwe by the People’s Republic of China.
The ten million vaccines bring to 12 million the vaccines Zimbabwe has received from China since February 2021.
President Mnangagwa said, “Government applauds China’s strong support and commitment to ensuring availability of affordable and effective vaccines not only to pur country Zimbabwe and the African continent, but to the entire global community.”
He continued, “This is highly commendable leadership, absolute regard for human life, dignity and safety, as well as exemplary global solidarity in the dace of the unprecedented health challenges of our time wrought by the Covid-19 pandemic.”
The 10 million vaccine donation to Zimbabwe is part of the swift implementation of the landmark pledge to provide Africa with one billion vaccines by President Xi Jinping in November 2021 at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation(FOCAC) Ministers’ Meeting in Senegal.
“For us in Zimbabwe this huge and timely gesture of support comes at a critical phase in our fight against the highly infectious Omicron Variant which threatens to erode our impressive gains in the fight against Covid-19 and our strides towards achieving national herd immunity,” said the President.
President Mnangagwa also said, “We in Zimbabwe therefore cherish this continued Chinese support in the fight against the global Covid-19 pandemic, which include the Chinese grant amounting to $20 million for the construction of the NetPharm Warehouse, the deployment of Chinese medical team of specialists and the constant supply of diagnostic reagents, thermometers and consumables such as latex gloves among other essential personal protective equipment (PPE).”
President Mnangagwa urged all citizens to be responsible and embrace Government’s vaccination program to have all people immunised and protected against the socurge of Covid-19.
President Mnangagwa told the gathering that, “The donation of the Covid-19 vaccines and the overall excellent bilateral relation between Zimbabwe and the People’s Republic of China should be viewed in the context of the ongoing implementation of various Chinese-funded priority ventures, which include the Hwange 7 and 8 Thermal Power Expansion Project, the Upgrage of the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, The NetOne( Huawei Broadband Expansion Project – Phase III), New Parliament Buildings, National Pharmaceutical Warehouse(Natpharm), the High Performance Computer Phase Two and the Kariba South Hydro Expansion Project.”
These projects are progressing well despite the delays induced by Covid-19. And bear testimony of the strong relations between the two nations.
The President also spoke of the huge potential for mutual benefit, growth and development in Key areas which Chinese investment and support would be instrumental in stimulating Zimbabwe’s effort to achieve Vision 2030 of an upper middle-income economy. The support and intervention would be in the production or financing of several projects such as manufacturing and distribution of Covid-19 vaccines, skills and technology development as access to Chinese markets for Zimbabwe’s agricultural products as well as funding of Zimbabwe’s go green commitments.
President Mnangagwa said the international support Zimbabwe is getting, is not by coincidence but a result of deliberate policies encouraging re-engagement.
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