(TALKZIMBABWE) Zimbabwe gets US$70 000 from Tanzania for cholera efforts

Zimbabwe gets US$70 000 from Tanzania for cholera efforts
Gift Chinene
Sun, 21 Dec 2008 22:16:00 +0000

A CONSIGNMENT containing 40 tonnes of drugs and equipment worth US$70 000 to help combat the cholera outbreak has arrived in Zimbabwe from Tanzania.

Earlier this month, the spokesman for Tanzanian President and current Chair of the African Union, Jakaya Kikwete, made the pledge to donate cholera fighting kits to Zimbabwe.

The consignment received in the capital Harare includes chlorinated lime, anti-biotics, infusion sets and latex gloves among others which are urgently needed to combat the crisis.

Tanzania, the only Sadc member state from East Africa, has vowed to help Zimbabwe fight the current public health crisis and urged all the countries in the region and internationally to help fight the epidemic.

Speaking after receiving the consignment, the Minister of Health and Child Welfare, Dr. David Parirenyatwa and the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development, Dr. Ignatius Chombo commended the people of Tanzania for responding to Zimbabwe’s plight “without prejudice”.

“We would like to extend our gratitude to our brothers, the Tanzanians, for their solidarity and urgency in responding to our call for assistance,” said Dr. Parirenyatwa.

“The Ministry of Health together with related ministries are working hard to arrest the spread of the cholera epidemic and we commended the Tanzanian government for its timely intervention,” added Dr. Parirenyatwa.

Dr. Chombo said that Tanzania “responded to the call urgently and without judging us.”

“We would like to thank the Tanzanian Government for the timely donation and their humanely gesture,” added Dr. Chombo.

“We hope that bilateral relations between Zimbabwe and Tanzania will always be strong.”

During the hand over ceremony, the Tanzanian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Jaji Rajabo said the relationship between Tanzania and Zimbabwe dates back to the liberation struggle and it should be strengthened.

CALL FOR INCLUSIVE GOVERNMENT

Tanzania joined the increasing number of countries urging Zimbabwe’s main political parties (Zanu PF and the two MDC formations) to form an all-inclusive Government.

Dismissing Western calls for militarized intervention under the Responsibility to Protect banner, President Kikwete said the AU and Tanzania did not consider invasion an option.

President Kikwete also endorsed the facilitation efforts of Sadc under former South African President, Thabo Mbeki, although the MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai had indicated that they were no longer recognizing him as an impartial mediator.

Ironically, the MDC requested President Kikwete to be the new mediator.