Harare (New Ziana)-President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Thursday commended Zimbabwean businesses for heeding government’s call to support efforts towards fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.
Currently, Zimbabwe has 28 confirmed COVID-19 cases including four deaths.
Receiving the donations worth millions of dollars, President Mnangagwa said the past few weeks had shown that Zimbabweans and other multi-stakeholders can work together.
“I am happy that after we made an appeal, people came forward with their support. I feel proud that Zimbabweans, when faced with a challenge, close ranks,” he said.
The Chinese embassy led Thursday’s donors, giving new protective materials and Cvid-19 test kits.
President Mnangagwa said China has been one of the biggest donors to national anti-Covid-19 efforts, and government was deeply grateful.
“With regards to the Chinese, I think what he (Ambassador Guao Shaochun) narrated today is just a fraction of the many donations made by the Peoples’ Republic of China.
“I am aware that effort continues in China to gather more material support for Zimbabwe despite what they have already given,” said the President.
He said government valued all donations towards Covid-19 regardless of size and volumes.
“To the rest of fellow Zimbabweans, big or small, the gratitude we extend to you is the same. We are family,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said donations of protective equipment given by various donors so far, go a long way in equipping health workers and institutions.
“I think we have enough for them not to say we have no equipment,” he said.
Also speaking after handing over Covid-19 test kits, protective wear and ventilators, Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe Guo Shaochun said another batch of goods is on its way to Zimbabwe and would be accompanied by an eleven member medical team of Chinese experts.
“An eleven- member team of Chinese medical expert team will bring medical expertise. Hand in hand, China and Zimbabwe will win this Covid-19 fight,” he said.
Also represented at the event, Internet provider, Africom said it had connected 181 hospitals and clinics across the country to the internet.
It said the free internet connection to hospitals would be for a period of 90 days.
Another donor, the Chamber of Mines fulfilled its earlier pledge of ZWL$1 million worth of goods.
The Chamber also donated an additional ten ventilators to be distributed to hospitals in the country’s ten provinces.
Kuda Tagwirei, chief executive of Sakunda Holdings said his company had finished equipping Arundel Hospital in Harare so that it becomes another Covid-19 treatment centre.
“We are donating Arundel Hospital to be used at no cost by all Zimbabweans,” he said.
Sakunda Holdings also availed a ZW$30 million grant towards research on Covid-19 by the country’s universities.
New Ziana