Online Reporter
Wallace Ruzvidzo
Herald Reporter
President Mnangagwa has been recognised as an outstanding humanitarian by the Red Cross and has since successfully fulfilled all requirements to qualify as a Life Member of the Society.
The President’s certificate was presented yesterday at State House in Harare by the Secretary General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Jagan Chapagain, who is currently in the country and was paying him a courtesy call.
The certificate citation stated that President Mnangagwa subscribes to the principles and provisions of the four Geneva Conventions of 1949, the Additional Protocols, and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement’s Seven Fundamental Principles of Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity, and Universality.
After a closed-door meeting with the President, Mr Chapagain told the media that his courtesy visit focused on expanding the Society’s humanitarian initiatives and thanking the President for his support as a Red Cross patron.
“So during this visit we want to discuss how to further strengthen and even expand some of these humanitarian activities in Zimbabwe and the main purpose of visiting here, His Excellency the President, is of course to thank him for his support as a patron of the Zimbabwe Red Cross and for his leadership,” he said.
The IFRC Secretary General said he was in the country mainly to familiarise himself with the Red Cross operations in Zimbabwe.
Over the years, the Red Cross has continued to roll out a wide range of humanitarian initiatives.
“This is my visit mainly to better understand the work done by the Zimbabwe Red Cross here in the country because we have been partnering with Zimbabwe Red Cross on a number of important humanitarian activities here in the country and disaster preparedness, disaster response, support to migrant population, health crises, you know we were involved in Cyclone Idai and COVID-19, so very important humanitarian works happening in the country,” he said.
Mr Chapagain said they were also hoping that Zimbabwe would champion some of its priorities on the global stage, especially now that the country has secured a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
“But also to work on some of the strategic priorities globally on further strengthening the Red Cross Act here in the country, promoting the Global Disaster Law Treaty, promoting protection of humanitarian workers globally and, of course, Zimbabwe now being in the United Nations Security Council, Zimbabwe can help promote some of those issues.
“So His Excellency has assured continuing collaboration and support and also that Zimbabwe will champion some of the strategic issues globally.
“So I’m really grateful for the warm welcome I have received here in Zimbabwe,” he said.
Mr Chapagain said Red Cross was also looking at increasing collaboration in disaster preparedness and response, “because that’s basically where we have a strong role to play”.
“That also includes some of the work in community health—strengthening communities’ resilience.
“(It includes the impacts of the climate crisis, including drought and rainfall patterns that can lead to food insecurity…we also want to invest in strengthening the capacity of the Zimbabwe Red Cross.
“These are some of the areas in which we would like to strengthen cooperation,” he said.
The IFRC Secretary General is expected to undertake field visits today and ministerial engagements on Monday.
