Staff Writer

Zimbabwe has received its second batch of Sinopharm, Covid-19 vaccines from China consisting of 344 000 doses.

Receiving the vaccine at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said that Zimbabwe was the first country to receive a second batch, following the first 200 000 received in February.

The consignment from China consists of 200 000 doses donated and 144 000 bought by the Zimbabwean Government in pursuit of vaccinating at least 60 percent of the population.

Today’s consignment includes syringes and other accessories required during deployment of the vaccine to different parts of the country including rural areas.

Additionally, the chartered Air Zimbabwe plane also had donation of 100 000 vaccines for Namibia, which the President said would be sent to that country free of charge.

Government started the Covid-19 vaccination exercise about three weeks ago targeting frontline workers. To date, a total of 37 660 front line workers have been vaccinated.

An additional 1,2 million doses are expected in the country as Zimbabwe seeks to vaccinate 10 million citizens.