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Remember Deketeke, Herald Correspondent

Zimbabwe yesterday received humanitarian assistance from Belarus to help address the challenges brought about by the El-Nino-induced drought affecting more than nine million people.

Among the items received were food, agricultural equipment, clothes, and supplements among others.

Addressing journalists at the handover of humanitarian donations from the Government of Belarus, Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe expressed gratitude for the assistance rendered by the Government of Belarus in fighting the El Nino-induced drought.

“We fully appreciate the relationship between the Republic of Zimbabwe and that of Belarus,” he said.

“We estimate that about 9,2 million Zimbabweans were exposed to this phenomenon. In terms of mitigatory measures at a local scale, President Mnangagwa has embarked on a programme to drill boreholes in all our 35 000 villages to ensure that all our people have access to clean water to drink, there is water for livestock and for horticultural businesses.”

Belarus’ Deputy Minister for Emergency Situations, Mr Ihar Bolatau reaffirmed his country’s commitment to bilateral cooperation to help transform the country’s economy.

“Today we are here doing our part in making sure that Zimbabwe has enough resources to mitigate the El Nino induced drought,” he said.

“What we want is to see Zimbabwe’s economy growing despite the drought, and realise its vision of transforming into an upper middle-income society by 2030.”