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Launching the Brightness Journey Camp, a free cataract eye operation programme by Chi-nese doctors at Chitungwiza Central Hospital yesterday, the President said despite the doctors having disparaged him and Government to gain entry into the United Kingdom, they remained Zimbabweans.

“Kunyika kwavakatizira ikoko kunana Britain havasisina basa navo.

“Vangangopihwawo twuwelfare pano nepapo asi mabasa anowanikwa ndiwo ekukwenya tumisana twechembere.

“Zvino ungayambuka makungwa nemaku-ngwa kunokwenya itwo twumisana itwotwo?

“Kovanambuya vedu kuno kumusha vanokwenywa nani?” he asked to mirth among delegates.

The Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces added: “Aiwa ngavadzoke zvavo, ngavadzoke kumusha. Hapana anemhosva ikoko.”

He said only those individuals who fled the country after committing criminal offences should be scared of returning home.

“MaBritish vanoda vanhu vavanotonga. Tino-vaziva zvekuvazivurura.

“Zvino isu, aiwa, takadzidziswa kusada kutongwa. Tingada kutongwa isu tichida kuzvitonga?”

He hailed the resilience shown by local health workers who remained in Zimbabwe over the last 10 economically turbulent years.

President Mugabe saluted the cordial relations between Zimbabwe and the People’s Republic of China as shown by the free eye operations.

These, he said, were some of the fruits of the Government’s Look East Policy.

“Hameno kuti ivo vamwe vedzimwe nyika havaone here hushamwari hwatiinahwo?

“Asi zvatisingade izvondo rinoramba riripo nohuny’any’a hwatinonzwa hwekutigarira musangano masikati nehusiku vachiti Hurumende yaVaMugabe hatiide.

“Hamuide muneyi nayo? Aiwa siyanai nesu panyaya idzodzo.”

He said the United Nations Charter was clear that no country should interfere in the domestic affairs of another.

President Mugabe said Zimbabwe wanted to co-exist peacefully with other countries.

He thanked China and Russia for vetoing efforts by Britain and the US to impose UN Security Council sanctions on Zimbabwe in 2008.

He said relations between Zimbabwe and China dated back to the 16th Century when an envoy of the Ming Dynasty, General Zheng Zhe, visited Great Zimbabwe.

President Mugabe said the relations developed further during the liberation struggle when China provided technical, material and moral support to dislodge British colonial rule.

“Relations between our two countries have continued to grow even after our attainment of independence, with greater emphasis now being laid on benefiting from Chinese expertise in the economic sector,” he said.

President Mugabe said such sectors as defe-nce, transport, energy, communication and agriculture continued to benefit from his Government’s Look East Policy.

Turning to the “Brightness Journey Camp”, President Mugabe said the Chinese assistance would go a long way in strengthening Zimba-bwe’s health delivery system.

Eradicating all treatable causes of blindness

is one of the country’s Vision 2020 objectives.

Doctors deal with 15 000 cases of treatable blindness yearly.

The 20 eye specialists in Zimbabwe have capacity to operate on only 5 000 patients a year due to lack of specialised equipment.

“It is with this situation in mind that we greatly welcome efforts by the March of Brightness Camp as they will tie in well with our Vision 2020 health development objectives,” President Mugabe said.

He said the Chinese programme complemented significant work done by local practitioners and initiatives such as Eyes for Africa.

President Mugabe thanked Anhui Foreign and Economic Construction Group of China for sponsoring the programme.

“Such a gesture is a clear indication of the sound and cordial relations that exist between the People’s Republic of China and Zimbabwe.”

On arrival, the President toured the hospital’s eye renal units.

He also had an opportunity to mingle with patients whose sight was restored after successful operations.

Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Xin Shunkang said the eye operations were clear testimony of the cordial relations between Harare and Beijing.

He said Zimbabwe was the first African country that the doctors had visited.

Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, whose ministry invited the Chinese doctors, said the military did so as part of its social responsibility programme.

He said the Chinese doctors are looking forward to assisting nearly 400 patients after surpassing the initial target of 300.

Acting Health Minister Sydney Sekeramayi thanked the Chinese for their help and called for even stronger bilateral ties.

Chitungwiza Central Hospital chief executive Dr Obadiah Moyo said the hospital was looking forward to establishing deeper professional relations with the Chinese and suggested a twinning arrangement.

Several Government officials attended the colourful event that also saw artistes like renowned Jamaican reggae icon King Sounds and local musician Alick Macheso attending.

King Sounds described Zimbabwe as a beautiful country.

“Coming to Zimbabwe was very uplifting to me. Zimbabwe is beautiful. I love it. Keep strong.”