Govt commends IFRC for humanitarian assistance to Zim
THe International Federation of the red Cross and red Crescent Societies has promised to continue humanitarian assistance to Zimbabwe, and Government has pledged to continue working with the grouping of national societies.
Meeting an IFRC team led by Ms Nena Stoiljkovic recently to discuss their commitment to buttress the Government’s humanitarian programmes this year, Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri said the Government appreciated the humanitarian assistance the transnational organisation was rendering to Zimbabwe.
Min Muchinguri-Kashiri said Zimbabwe’s relations with the IFRC date back to 1980 when it was providing demining assistance, with Zimbabwe littered by landmines planted during the liberation struggle to inhibit freedom fighters from receiving training to dislodge the Ian Smith regime.
She said the donors had now come to pledge their continued support in various facets of the country to complement the Government’s efforts ranging from education, water and sanitation to marginalised communities and health.
The IFRC had been instrumental in the provision of cholera vaccines to tackle the effects of the epidemic.
“We are very happy as the Ministry of Defence representing the Government of Zimbabwe that we are meeting the team of donors led by the head who is from Switzerland.
“We started relating in 1980 and through an Act of Parliament we were able to establish a local red Cross Organisation and it is voluntary and is made up of volunteers who work in communities with the assistance of donors from various corners of the globe. The donors have come here to show their commitment to continue supporting Zimbabwe in humanitarian assistance,” said Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri.
“The red Cross is a humanitarian organisation. In the area of defence, we work with them very closely as we train our soldiers on human rights issues and humanitarian law. We are happy that they are coming to Zimbabwe through their regional office that was established to work with them to come up with an annual strategy on how best they could address quite some issues in Zimbabwe.
“When we got our independence, the red Cross was at the forefront of putting together resources to remove landmines and you know we were one of the highest infested countries in the world. I am proud that we are targeting next year to completely address the issue of landmines in the country. In light of this, red Cross had been a defence partner, so were discussing the possibility of renewing relations with Zimbabwe. On the issue of cholera, they are playing a major role in providing vaccines and also participating in the area of WASH.”
She said the IFRC was buttressing Government efforts to mitigate drug and dangerous substance abuse in the country as the vice had become rampant among the youth.
The Minister commended President Mnangagwa for coming up with a plan of action to confront the vice, a plan that partners helped implement.
“We also looked at the issues of drugs and dangerous substance abuse. They are various pillars that the Government has established under the leadership of President Mnangagwa. The area of information and rehabilitation. We are sure that as the red Cross operates at the village level this is an area in which our local chapter can play a role.
“The President will launch the plan of action shortly and we are working in consultation with the United Nations. This is what we have been preoccupied with and also creating a particular organisation which will be tackling these issues. We are at a stage where we can say with confidence that we are ready to launch our Zimbabwe plan of action,” she said. Through its humanitarian work, the IFRC is working with the Government and currently has assisted in establishing a water project in Muzarabani.