Zimbabwe leader gets Chinese jab

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Wednesday was given a Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccine in the resort town of Victoria Falls.

In receiving his first shot of the vaccine from drugmaker Sinovac Biotec, the president also launched the second phase of the country's vaccination drive.

Mnangagwa's vaccination follows that of Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, who received his final shot of a vaccine from China's Sinopharm on March 18.

The launch of the second phase of the vaccination program in Victoria Falls, covering all eligible residents, is also aimed at boosting tourism in the country, Mnangagwa said.

He encouraged Zimbabweans to embrace vaccination as the only way to fight the coronavirus pandemic and ensure the southern African country embarks on an economic recovery.

"No one is safe until everyone is safe. I therefore challenge everyone of us in our respective communities to accept the vaccination program and to shun vaccine hesitancy, misinformation and the negative conspiracy theories,"Mnangagwa said.

He said vaccination advances Zimbabwe's global obligation to combat the spread of the virus as well as the socio-economic effects of the pandemic.

"I would like to take this opportunity to once again express my profound gratitude to China, Russia, India and indeed an offer that also came from the United Kingdom for the donation of vaccines," he said.

Xinhua