Harare (New Ziana)-The Rublic of China on Wednesday handed over rice and wheat to the Zimbabwe government for onward distribution to the elderly, children’s homes and persons with disabilities.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Paul Mavima said the cereals will ensure that vulnerable people are reached with food.

“As evidenced here, all the beneficiaries are represented during this handover ceremony including the elderly, children’s homes as well as persons with disabilities,” he said.

“As the government of Zimbabwe awaits the release of the results of the 2023 Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee Rural Livelihood Assessment, which guides the implementation of the Food Deficit Mitigation Strategy, this donation will go a long way in complementing Government efforts of alleviating hunger as it responds to distress calls for food assistance across the country in the spirit of leaving no one behind.

“It is therefore my Ministry’s mandate to ensure that the distribution of the donated rice and flour will mainly target on vulnerable people, who include the Elderly, Chronically ill, Persons with Disabilities and Child Headed Households, victims of other disasters, registered institutions accommodating vulnerable children, destitute older persons and PWDs.”

Mavima said the donation was a result of existing good relations between China and Zimbabwe.

“It does not matter that Zimbabwe is becoming self-sufficient as far as wheat is concerned but there is a friendship that we are celebrating and this is a situation of ‘one good turn deserves another,” he said.

Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe Zhou Ding said the food assistance includes 1 056 tons of rice and 1 056 tons of wheat.

“Since 2002, China has delivered over 10 shipments of food supplies to Zimbabwe. Our bilateral relations have always followed the principle of sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith and with concrete actions,” he said.

He said China is committed to assisting Zimbabwe to develop its agricultural facilities.

“The Chinese Agricultural Demonstration Center has engaged effectively in technical training, pushing for agricultural modernization in Zimbabwe. China has helped drill 1 000 boreholes across the country up till now, providing access to clean drinking water for more than 400 000 people. We have also helped build the Valley Dam and irrigation projects,” he said.

Vernia Mudhara, supervisor of Chinyaradzo Childrens Home, one of the beneficiaries, said the food assistance will go a long way in improving the dietary needs of young children in their care.

“We have children in our care. Now we do not have to limit their share because we now have adequate rice and wheat flour in our stock,” she said.

New Ziana