China donates 1,760 tonnes of rice to drought-stri...

China donates 1,760 tonnes of rice to drought-stricken Zimbabwe

Oscar J Jeke

Zim Now Reporter

The Chinese government has stepped in to provide critical food aid to Zimbabwe, offering a lifeline to vulnerable communities facing the devastating effects of drought. Ambassador Zhou Ding, representing the Chinese government, today donated 1,760 metric tonnes of rice to the Zimbabwean government at State House in Harare.

The donation, received by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, will be distributed to vulnerable communities and orphanages across the country, including Harare Children's Home, Jairos Jiri Associations, Salvation Army homes, and Ngomahuru Psychiatric Hospital. This timely assistance comes as Zimbabwe grapples with a severe drought caused by the El Niño phenomenon, which has declared the 2023/2024 cropping season a State of Disaster.

In response to the food crisis, the Zimbabwean government has implemented a food deficit mitigation strategy and an urban cash transfer program, benefiting over 5.4 million people in the first three months alone. The second cycle of this program commenced on August 6, further expanding its reach to those in need.

China's generous donation follows similar contributions from Russia and Rwanda, who have also responded to President Mnangagwa's calls for food assistance. Additionally, the Southern African region's emergency department has provided millions of dollars to alleviate the food insecurity crisis.

President Mnangagwa expressed his deep gratitude to the Chinese government for their unwavering support during this challenging time. "We will make sure that no one and no family dies of hunger as long as we are here and as long as we have good friends like China who will support us," he stated.