China yesterday donated $60 000 worth of food to flood victims.
BY MUNESU NYAKUDYA
Speaking at the handover ceremony in Harare yesterday, Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe, Huang Ping said the donation followed another $1 million cash donation transferred to the government to assist victims.
“Today, the Chinese Red Cross Society, the Chinese embassy and the Chinese community here in Zimbabwe have joined hands to donate $60 000 worth of food. We used this money to buy the food, including maize, salt, cooking oil, biscuits, sugar and some other food items, for the disaster-affected people. We didn’t buy any meat because that requires refrigerators, it will be very difficult to conserve in the area, where I believe there is no electricity,” he said.
Ping said that China would continue to be Zimbabwe’s most reliable partner in speeding up industrialisation, agriculture modernisation and boosting its capacity for homegrown development.
Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere said Zimbabwe should learn from China on how to manage disasters.
“It is remarkable that the people of China have gained experience to manage disaster risk over time and have in place robust preparedness and response mechanisms, which are backed by proactive mitigation strategies, thus ensuring resilience. This ensures continuity and early recovery from calamities. I believe it is opportune for Zimbabwe to glean lessons from this exemplary approach,” he said.
