Staff Reporter
Yesterday Zimbabwe donated 20 000 doses of the Covid19 vaccine to Namibia in an effort to help protect citizens of the region, said His Excellency the President and First Secretary of ZANU PF, Cde E. D Mnangagwa.
Five vaccines have been approved for use in Zimbabwe, Janssen (Johnson and Johnson) Ad26.COV2.S, Sputnik V, Covaxin, Sinopharm and Sinovac. Zimbabwe’s national vaccination programme is leading in sub-Saharan Africa and is running four times the African average of 7.16 doses per 100 people and 4.7% of the continent’s population having at least one dose.
As a way of showing Regional support, Zimbabwe is fulfilling its’ engagement and re-engagement drive as a promise it made in the ZANU PF People’s Manifesto of strengthening existing friendships.
President Mnangagwa wrote on his Twitter handle saying, “Only when citizens of our region are protected, will Zimbabwe be able to return to normality. I am delighted to announce that Zimbabwe has donated 20 000 Covid19 vaccines to Namibia. Let us protect all Africans.”
Speaking during the Post Cabinet Brief last week, Minister of Information Publicity and Broadcasting Services Cde Monica Mutsvangwa highlighted that the donation would be made in the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation.
“In the spirit of regional cooperation and solidarity, the Government will donate 20 000 doses of vaccines to the Government of Namibia,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
Minister Mutsvangwa also revealed that between 19 and 24 August 2021, Zimbabwe received 2 500 000 million doses of vaccine it purchased. The country is expecting to receive a further 2 500 000 million doses of vaccines under direct purchase, and 943 200 doses under the COVAX programme during the month of September. Government has assured the nation that it has sufficient financial resources to procure all the required vaccines.
The procurement of vaccines by Zimbabwe has been rated at First World levels and one of the best in Africa.
The Chinese Government has so far donated 500 000 doses, while the Serbian Government has made a donation of 30 000 Sputnik V vaccine doses.