marble nkomo
Gibson Nyikadzino, Zimpapers Politics Hub
ZIMBABWE yesterday dispatched large consignments of humanitarian aid — including maize, tents and blankets — to Mozambique and Malawi, as the two regional countries battle devastating floods that have displaced thousands of people, destroyed infrastructure and cut off access to basic services.
The assistance follows President Mnangagwa’s decision on Thursday to temporarily break his annual leave to personally lead high-level co-ordination of Zimbabwe’s domestic and sub-regional disaster response to rainfall-induced emergencies affecting parts of the country, Mozambique and Malawi.
Under the emergency intervention, Zimbabwe activated food assistance and air-rescue support, including the deployment of helicopters to Mozambique to assist with search-and-rescue operations in flood-hit areas.
The relief aid dispatched yesterday comprises 1 300 tonnes of maize, tents, mealie-meal, blankets and other essential supplies.
Of this, Malawi will receive 1 000 tonnes of maize, while Mozambique will receive 300 tonnes, in addition to other humanitarian materials.
The assistance is being co-ordinated through ZimAid, a Government-established humanitarian assistance mechanism created to mobilise and channel Zimbabwe’s support to countries beyond its borders during emergencies.
The intervention follows formal distress calls received from the governments of Malawi and Mozambique.
Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, who officiated at the send-off ceremony held in Harare, said the humanitarian gesture reflected Zimbabwe’s enduring spirit of Pan-Africanism under President Mnangagwa’s leadership.
She described the consignment as an expression of solidarity, compassion and shared humanity with the people of Malawi and Mozambique during a difficult period.
“Disasters remind us that while borders may define nations, compassion knows no boundaries. As a responsible member of the regional and global community, our country remains steadfast in supporting humanitarian efforts that save lives, alleviate suffering and build resilience,” Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said.
She paid tribute to President Mnangagwa for spearheading the regional response and for establishing ZimAid as a vehicle for co-ordinated humanitarian intervention.
“Allow me to express our most profound gratitude to His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Dr ED Mnangagwa, for demonstrating an unflinching Pan-Africanist spirit.
“It is through his innovative leadership that ZimAid was founded to co-ordinate our humanitarian assistance across the region and beyond, in line with his National Development Strategy 2 vision of promoting regional and international cooperation,” Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said.
On Thursday, President Mnangagwa directed that two air-rescue helicopters be dispatched to Mozambique to support search-and-rescue efforts, particularly for communities marooned by floodwaters.
Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said the disasters affecting Mozambique and Malawi were being worsened by climate change, which she described as a “threat multiplier”.
She added that the humanitarian response reaffirmed Zimbabwe’s commitment to disaster preparedness, climate resilience and sustainable development under NDS2.
“Climate change is no longer just an environmental issue. It is a threat multiplier that compounds existing challenges. As we send off these consignments, we reaffirm our longer-term commitment to disaster preparedness, climate resilience and sustainable development as guided by NDS2’s priority on Climate Resilience and Environmental Protection,” the minister said.
“Beyond emergency response, we must continue to invest in systems that reduce vulnerability and strengthen the capacity of our communities — and those of our neighbours — to withstand contemporary threats and shocks.”
Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe, who also addressed the gathering, said Zimbabwe could not remain indifferent to the suffering of its neighbours, given the shared history, culture and destiny of the three countries.
“As Zimbabweans, we do not view this tragedy from a distance. We feel it as neighbours, as partners and as members of one regional family. Our histories, cultures and futures are closely intertwined. When hardship befalls Mozambique and Malawi, it resonates across our borders and within our communities,” Minister Garwe said.
He also thanked Government ministries, departments, agencies, businesses, faith-based organisations and individuals for mobilising resources and humanitarian relief donations.
The send-off ceremony was attended by Malawi’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Peter Namathanga, and senior officials from various Government ministries and departments.
Speaking to The Herald on Thursday, Presidential Spokesperson Mr George Charamba said the worsening weather situation across the region was fast developing into a sub-regional disaster, necessitating immediate intervention at both national and regional levels.
“We have had two SOSs — the first from the sister Republic of Malawi through our Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the second from Mozambique,” said Mr Charamba.
“And both countries are in quite a situation, given what has happened in terms of the weather.
“We are facing a situation which is fast morphing into a sub-regional disaster.
“And because of that very adverse situation, His Excellency, the President has had to break from his leave in order to ensure that Government is properly directed on the appropriate response, which is both internal as well as sub-regional.”
He said Zimbabwe will deploy two fully equipped air rescue helicopters to Mozambique to assist with emergency evacuations of marooned families and individuals trapped by rising floodwaters.
The helicopters, Mr Charamba said, are capable of conducting aerial rescues and providing emergency medical services.
“The good thing is those two helicopters are fully kitted,” he said.
“They provide emergency health services and are also able to extract persons in distress and evacuate them to safety.
“And that really is what we have done at the level of rescuing persons and families that might be marooned in Mozambique.”
Online Reporter