China donates over 12,000 tonnes of rice to Zimbabwe

China on Monday donated 12,173 tonnes of rice to Zimbabwe to assist vulnerable people that were affected by drought which wreaked havoc last year.

Public Service, Labor and Social Welfare Minister Prisca Mupfumira said the donation, which follows Zimbabwe's international food aid appeal in 2016, would also be distributed to families that were affected by floods in February this year.

Speaking at the signing ceremony with the Chinese Embassy, Mupfumira said the rice was expected in the country by June.

In response to the appeal, China in 2016 already donated 19,000 tonnes of rice which had been distributed to the needy throughout the country.

"Today we are witnessing another contribution from China where they are donating 12,173 tonnes of rice to Zimbabwe. We appreciate the gesture made by China," the minister said.

The donation comes after China on March 31, 2017 handed over 1 million U.S. dollars to Zimbabwe to help thousands of families affected by floods that hit the southern parts of the country in February.

The Red Cross Society of China also donated 50,000 dollars while the Chinese community in Zimbabwe chipped in with 10,000 dollars to assist the flood victims.

Mupfumira said the Zimbabwe government had distributed 481,073 tonnes of maize to the needy since October last year.

Heavy rains that were worsened by Cyclone Dineo in February left 271 people dead, another 128 injured and nearly 2,000 homeless in Zimbabwe.

The deaths were caused by lightning strikes, drowning and landslides, according to the Civil Protection Unit.

President Robert Mugabe on March 2 declared a State of Flood Disaster, leading to the launching of a domestic and international appeal for nearly 189 million dollars to help victims and repair infrastructure such as homes, roads, bridges, dams, schools, water and sanitation.