adminHerald Reporter
Iran will continue supporting Zimbabwe’s economic development, a senior official from the Middle Eastern country has said. Tehran’s Ambassador in Harare, Mr Mohammad Amin Nejad, said this at yesterday’s local celebrations of the 35th anniversary of the Iran Islamic Revolution that deposed an American-backed puppet regime.
The 1979 Islamic Revolution came just before Zimbabwe gained its own independence from British settler rule through armed struggle.
Ambassador Nejad said, “We have come a long way with Zimbabwe and since our revolution, our relations have grown constantly.
“We support each other in different international and regional organisations.
“Economic ties have also been a point of focus by leaders and officials of the two states including formation of joint committee meetings and organisation of reciprocal visits at technical level.”
Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa commended Iran for supporting the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim-Asset).
“We are proud to celebrate this day with Iran since we share the same history. We have managed to share bilateral ties with Iran for a long time and we are hoping that there will be more endorsements that push for our Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Clinic of the Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Zimbabwe is offering free blood screening to help combat communicable and non-communicable diseases.
A mobile clinic set up at Africa Unity Square in Harare targeted diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol levels and obesity, syphilis, and HIV and Aids; as well as dental screening. CRSC clinic manager Dr Amin Hamidzadeh said they were targeting 5 000 people for blood screening compared to last year’s 2 000.
“This is part of our 35th anniversary revolution celebrations.
“We are promoting good health for the people of Zimbabwe through these annual free treatment and blood screening campaigns to curb non-communicable diseases and infectious diseases,” he said.
Dr Hamidzadeh also said they were involved in helping families that were affected by floods in Masvingo Province.
Iran’s Islamic Revolution came to fruition on February 11, 1979 after months of massive protests that overthrew the Shah, a US-backed autocratic monarch.
Forces loyal to the Shah defected to Ayatollah Rouhollah Khomeini, the late Father of the Islamic Revolution.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter