Mozambique receives 200K free Chinese vaccines, Zimbabwe gets 200k more

Combined 400,000 shots, that is how many coronavirus vaccines that Beijing is making available to two southern African countries – Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

Mozambican authorities on February 24, 2021 confirmed having received 200,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine donated by China.

The consignment was received on Wednesday by Prime Minister Carlos Agostinho do Rosario at the Maputo International Airport.

The prime minister said the government was working on getting more Covid-19 vaccines. The initial vaccination drive will prioritise high-risk groups, like the estimated 60,000 health workers.

India has also pledged to donate 100,000 shots to Mozambique, the government said.

The new 200,000 doses to be donated to Zimbabwe brings China's total donation to 400,000. Harare said the move was a sign of the growing mutual relationship between the two countries.

Zimbabwe, with a target of 10 million vaccinations has hinted that it will buy some 1.8 million doses from China in addition to the donations.

Meanwhile, Namibian officials have reiterated that Beijing would donate 100,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Windhoek at a yet to be communicated date.