News / National
Zimbabwe government appeals for Covid-19 vaccine donations
07 Feb 2021 at 18:28hrs | Views
THE government is appealing for assistance in raising funds to procure Covid-19 vaccines and has opened the door to the corporate world, citizens and other well-wishers to chip ion.
This comes at a time that health experts have warned that the country faces a third wave of the novel coronavirus unless a vaccine is quickly availed. Countries such as China have pledged to assist the country with doses of the vaccine to help curb the virus which has killed over 1 300 people, with the government targeting to inoculate 60 percent of the population.
In a statement, Finance minister Mthuli Ncube availed several banking details and mobile money transfer platforms for the National Disaster Fund through which money will be deposited towards the vaccines.
Recently, President Emerson Mnangagwa said the government was engaging with the private sector to ensure cooperation in acquiring the much-needed vaccine against the lethal respiratory disease.
"It is in this context that the government is announcing this broader private sector initiative to the corporate sector, citizens and other well-wishers to contribute financially and or otherwise towards the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines," the minister said.
Ncube emphasised that the vaccines will be given to people for free with frontline health workers, the elderly and those with chronic diseases getting the first jabs.
"It should, however, be emphasised that all vaccines purchased through the government of Zimbabwe will be made available to Zimbabwean citizens free of charge," he said.
The government said it is committed to ensuring that the partnerships are deepened for the good of the nation. "Government fully acknowledges and appreciates the support and cooperation so far received from the private sector and is committed to ensure that these partnerships are deepened for the national good," Ncube added.
This comes at a time that health experts have warned that the country faces a third wave of the novel coronavirus unless a vaccine is quickly availed. Countries such as China have pledged to assist the country with doses of the vaccine to help curb the virus which has killed over 1 300 people, with the government targeting to inoculate 60 percent of the population.
In a statement, Finance minister Mthuli Ncube availed several banking details and mobile money transfer platforms for the National Disaster Fund through which money will be deposited towards the vaccines.
Recently, President Emerson Mnangagwa said the government was engaging with the private sector to ensure cooperation in acquiring the much-needed vaccine against the lethal respiratory disease.
"It is in this context that the government is announcing this broader private sector initiative to the corporate sector, citizens and other well-wishers to contribute financially and or otherwise towards the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines," the minister said.
Ncube emphasised that the vaccines will be given to people for free with frontline health workers, the elderly and those with chronic diseases getting the first jabs.
"It should, however, be emphasised that all vaccines purchased through the government of Zimbabwe will be made available to Zimbabwean citizens free of charge," he said.
The government said it is committed to ensuring that the partnerships are deepened for the good of the nation. "Government fully acknowledges and appreciates the support and cooperation so far received from the private sector and is committed to ensure that these partnerships are deepened for the national good," Ncube added.
Source - dailynews
