Story by Abigirl Tembo, Health Editor
THE African diaspora community has commended Zimbabwe for rising above illegal economic sanctions imposed by the West and has vowed to support the country in various sectors of the economy.
When COVID-19 struck, the International community predicted the worst for Africa and this pushed organisations such as the African Diaspora Development Institute to mobilise hospital equipment and sundries for Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals worth US$400 000, which was handed over to the hospital this Thursday.
Speaking on the sidelines of the handover, the African Diaspora Development Institute founder and president, Dr Arikana Chihombori commended Zimbabwe’s resilience in the face of illegal sanctions imposed by the West.
“This donation starting in Zimbabwe is a way of showing Zimbabwe that the diaspora is very interested in Zimbabwe. The diaspora understands what Zimbabwe is going through and why the sanctions are being put on Zimbabwe. It’s not because of the people it’s because of what the country has, it’s because of the position the country has taken when it comes to requisition of our land.
“Zimbabwean people must know it is the only country on earth that has taken back its land from those who sought to take it away from us and I am talking about the colonisers. It is the only country that has done that, so the world was trying to use Zimbabwe as an example to say if you ever stand up and you take your land back this is what was gonna come to you. Well, guess what? 21 years later since the sanctions, Zimbabwe is still standing strong because of the spirit of Africanism.
“We are like the railway line, we are made of stone as a people. Zimbabwe is made up of its people and the people are resilient much to the same extent that we defeated the British, we defeated Ian Smith. We will defeat the sanctions, that’s why the diaspora are saying we will come together, we will support Zimbabwe because we believe in what Zimbabwe is standing for and as black people in Zimbabwe in Africa, we will continue to stand like a solid rock and defend our turf and defend what belongs to us,” she said.
Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals acting chief executive officer, Dr Aspect Maunganidze promised to make good use of the equipment and medication.
“It gives me great pleasure to acknowledge the efforts of the African Diaspora Development Community. COVID-19 caught the whole world unaware. However, with the guidance of our government through our President, we managed to pull through. We are honored as Parirenyatwa to be the first institute that ADDI has partnered with. As you are aware we are turning a page with the new dispensation to make sure that our health sector is revamped so this is a welcome donation,” said the CEO.
The donated items include ventilators, hospital beds, incubators, and medication which were procured in consultation with the hospital.