Zimbabweans must stop propagating racial and slanderous
publicity relating to the origins of Covid-19, Foreign Affairs and
International Trade Minister Dr Sibusiso Moyo said last night.
“The ministry has received reports, and in some cases
photographic evidence, of Zimbabwe-based companies propagating offensive,
racially-discriminatory publicity relating to the supposed origins of the
Covid-19 virus,” he said.
“Discrimination in any way, shape or form is abhorrent to
the Government of Zimbabwe. Whatever its origins, Covid-19 is a global threat,
affecting each and every inhabitant of planet earth, with zero regard for
ethnicity, social status, wealth or any other of the various strata, which have
been contrived, over centuries, to set us apart from each other.”
Dr Moyo said misguided assumptions with regard to the
origin and the consequent attribution of blame “take us nowhere, render a
difficult situation even more challenging and impact negatively on relations
between and amongst brotherly nations and peoples”.
He said during colonial rule, Zimbabweans were subjected to
worst forms of discrimination and it was, therefore, unthinkable that any
Zimbabwean national or resident should seek to dishonour the ethos and
sacrifice which led to the sovereign independence by indulging in any form of
racially-charged slander or insult, against anybody, for whatever reason.
“It is simply unacceptable,” said Dr Moyo. “True, to this
principle, Zimbabwe recently co-sponsored a UN General Assembly resolution on
Covid-19, cautioning the world against “any form of discrimination, racism and
xenophobia in response to the pandemic.”
The resolution was unanimously adopted by the General
Assembly and stressed the need for intensified international solidarity.
Said Dr Moyo: “Our focus as Government, as a people and as
a community, must be on directing all energy and maximum effort towards
limiting the spread of this deadly virus and minimising its impact upon our
populace and indeed all those who reside in Zimbabwe.
“Our efforts do not take place in a vacuum. They are part
of a regional continental, and indeed fully global effort, by all nations and
all people in alignment with the detailed guidelines set out by the World
Health Organisation to compact this disease.
“Zimbabwe is playing its part within that global effort. We
rely on the support and cooperation of others, from within our region and way
beyond.
“We are grateful for the assistance being provided at both
domestic and international levels, as we prepare and consolidate our defences.”
Herald
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