President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran. The two nations have been subject to vicious attacks by the imperialist countries of the US and Britain.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
Zimbabwe Herald Reporter
The Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to offer humanitarian assistance to Zimbabwe in times of need and develop to the highest level cordial relations between the two nations, Iran’s deputy ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Javad Dehghan, has said.
Mr Dehghan was speaking at the handover of 80 wheelchairs, 25 boxes of vitamin supplementary tablets and maternity kits and food hampers to disabled people and representatives of the nine clinics in Mhondoro on Wednesday.
The wheelchairs were sourced from the USA by Dr Phillip Mazorodze (now deceased) while the vitamin supplements and maternity kits were donated by Life Ministries.
The Islamic Republic of Iran donated food hampers comprising cooking oil, mealie meal and salt.
In addition, the embassy donated cash for the procurement of 250kg of maize seed for the Zunde Ramambo project under Chief Mashayamombe as part of its efforts to assist the less privileged members of the society.
"In our desire to further expand the already existing relations between our two countries in all areas of co-operation based on the famous saying "a friend in need is a friend in deed," my embassy is once again extending the hand of friendship to the people of Mhondoro-Mubaira.
"In strengthening the brotherly relations between our nations, we have also made donations to several constituencies in Zimbabwe and this donation today is a further demonstration of the solidarity between our countries," he added.
Head of the Cultural Centre of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mr Mohammad Assadi, who also attended the ceremony said his country was concerned by the adverse effects the sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by Britain and her allies were causing on the ordinary Zimbabwean.
Also speaking on the same occasion, the Minister of State in VP Mujuru’s office Cde Sylvester Nguni hailed Iran’s stance in supporting Zimbabwe politically, economically and socially as demonstrated in its quick response to the country’s distress calls in the face of natural calamities like floods.
Minister Nguni also added that Iran had shown its support by defending Zimbabwe at various UN fora where hostile nations had moved motions to isolate Zimbabwe among other things.
A rehabilitation technician with the St Michael’s Hospital, the largest health institution in Mhondoro, Mr Charles Mawuto, urged the beneficiaries of the donations to put them to the intended use.
He challenged those distributing the goods to prioritise severe cases of need and disability.
Zimbabwe and Iran enjoy a healthy diplomatic and economic relationship, which has seen the Islamic country donating more than 93 times towards humanitarian assistance.
Recently the embassy was involved in helping victims of a storm that destroyed homes and crops in Mt Darwin.
Iran has also helped Zimbabwe in the mechanisation of the agricultural sector, equipping the national broadcaster, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings and is currently eyeing partnerships in tourism and other sectors of the economy, deputy ambassador Dehghan added.
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