THE People’s Liberation Army of China has donated 100 000 Sinopharm vaccines to Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) to help the country in the fight against the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.
By Patricia Mashiri
The donation was handed over this Monday to the Minister of Defence and War Veterans, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri by Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Guo Shaochun.
In his speech Ambassador Shaochun said the donation was a gesture of showing their continued support to Zimbabwe during the pandemic.
Now we are at a time that needs more solidarity, trust and mutual support. Today’s donations standout because this is a solidarity from one military to another, from comrades to comrades we are very proud to say that our comradeship withstood the test of this century challenge and become stronger than ever,” Ambassador Shaochun said.
In her acceptance speech, Minister Oppah Muchinguri said the vaccine has come at the right time when the country is on a wide national program of vaccinating its citizens.
“What makes the donation most important is that it is coming on the backdrop of a general shortage of vaccines the world over, where each government is battling to meet its own population requirements.
“The Chinese government is equally in the same situation but has prioritised is equally in the same situation but has prioritised us for the third time,” Kuchinguri-Kashiri said.
