Harare (New Ziana) – A huge consignment of medical supplies and equipment arrived in Zimbabwe on Monday from China for use in the ongoing fight against the deadly coronavirus.

The supplies were purchased by fuel company Sakunda Holdings and local Chinese businesses for use in local hospitals.

“Sakunda Holdings and Chinese business people operating in Zimbabwe have imported 23 tonnes of medical equipment- PPEs and ventilators plus Chinese and western medicines to fight Covid-19,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade tweeted.

“The consignment arrived on Air Zimbabwe charter flight at RGM international airport today (Monday).”

This initiative is part of efforts the private sector is making to assist the government deal with Covid-19 which has infected over two million people globally while killing over 152 000.

On its part, the government is working on upgrading central, district and mission hospitals to enable them to take care of people infected by the disease in the event of a large scale outbreak.

Over $500 million has to date been availed in the fight against COVID-19, with an international appeal for US$220 million having been made as the government prepares for the worst.

Zimbabwe currently has 25 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including three deaths and two recoveries.

Meanwhile, Chinese billionaire Jack Ma has announced a third round of Covid-19 assistance to African countries.

“Our third donation to Africa will immediately be made to the African Union and the Africa Centre for Disease Control,” he wrote on twitter.
“This includes 4.6 million masks, 500 000 swabs and test kits, 300 ventilators, 200 000 clothing sets, 200 000 face shields, 2 000 thermal guns, 100 body temperature scanners and 500 000 pairs of gloves.”
New Ziana