Staff Reporter
President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday received the first batch of 35 000 Covaxin COVID-19 vaccines, which is part of a donation of 75 000 vaccines from the Indian Government.
The donation is in fulfilment of India’s pledge made in February, this year and comes at a time when Zimbabwe has moved into its next stage of National COVID-19 vaccination programme, which is targeting teachers, the Judiciary, the Clergy and the Security services among others.
Speaking after receiving the consignment at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, President Mnangagwa said the gesture by the Indian Government was welcomed and a timely intervention at a time the country was fighting the pandemic.
“This Covaxin consignment is a timely and most welcome contribution to our ongoing National COVID-19 Vaccination programme. Zimbabwe and India enjoy excellent bilateral relations dating bank to the days of our liberation struggle and we have over the years expanded this cooperation,” said President Mnangagwa.
The President took the opportunity to invite Indian investors to consider the numerous investment opportunities presented by Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy 1 (NDS 1) and that the country’s One-Stop investment Centre, ZIDA, stands ready to facilitate investments from India.
In handing over the consignment, the Ambassador of the Republic of India, His Excellency Vijay Khanduja said this was a testimony of the excellent relations between Zimbabwe and India.
Posting on his Twitter handle over India’s gesture, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Nick Mangwana said India’s gesture was a clear testimony of the fruits of Zimbabwe’s engagement and re-engagement efforts.
“Part of the engagement and re-engagement policy is to ensure that Zimbabwe has friends and does not live in isolation. We continue to witness its success as President Mnangagwa leads the receiving of first batch of Covaxin COVID-19 vaccine donated by the Government of India,” he said.
Meanwhile as at 29 March 2021, Zimbabwe had recorded 36 839 confirmed cases including 34 617 recoveries and 1520 deaths. To date a total of 69 751 people have been vaccinated against the deadly COVID-19.
