China has donated 12,500 metric tonnes of rice to Zimbabwe to assist needy people cope with expected food shortages in some parts of the country.
Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Huang Ping pledged commitment to assisting the southern African country in various areas, including food aid and long term extensive agricultural development.
“The Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese government always put agriculture as one of the top priority tasks. China fully understands the importance of agriculture for Zimbabwe, and is more than willing to support Zimbabwe in its efforts to increase food production and attain food security,” Huang said.
The rice donation is expected to reach around 101,000 vulnerable homes, and that number could double to 302,000 during the lean season between January and March 2018.
Zimbabwe’s Labour and Social Welfare Minister Prisca Mupfumira thanked the Chinese government for the donation, saying it reflected the true friendship that the two countries have.
“We are gathered here to celebrate the generosity expressed by the government of the People’s Republic of China… it shows a true friendship between the people’s Republic of China and Zimbabwe,” she said.
The southern African country will now be cushioned from biting hunger caused by the persistent drought and the effect of fall armyworms destroying crop yields.
