tawandamusarurwa
Online Reporter
China on Wednesday donated over 2 000 tonnes of rice and wheat flour to Zimbabwe, as relations between the two countries continue to grow.
Receiving the donation at Grain Marketing Board (GMB)’s Aspindale depot, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Professor Paul Mavima said the donation would go a long way in alleviating food shortages in care homes across the country.
“This is in line with the provisions of the NDS1 (National Development Strategy 1) on the social protection pillar, which speaks to food security and sufficiency to all households, in the spirit of leaving no one and no place food insufficient.”
Zimbabwe, said Professor Mavima, has produced enough food for local consumption, but care homes always need supplementary support.
“We have a lot of children’s homes, old people’s homes and homes that house people with disabilities. These are primary beneficiaries of this food that has been delivered,” he said.
China’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Zhou Ding handed over the consignment of 1 050 tonnes of rice and 1 050 tonnes of wheat flour.
“This handover demonstrates our brotherly relations as well as our common aspirations in pursuing cooperation on food security and poverty reduction,” said Ambassador Zhou.
“China has been supporting Zimbabwe in creating a self-sufficient and food surplus economy and becoming the breadbasket of Southern Africa again.”
Bongani Ndlovu