Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Zimbabwe Minister Accuses China of Manufacturing COVID-19

Columbus Mavhunga

   HARARE - Public health experts in Zimbabwe are condemning remarks by
   the country's defense minister who accused China of botched
   "experiments" as responsible for the outbreak of the coronavirus
   pandemic ravaging the world. President Emmerson Mnangagwa's government
   has since distanced itself from the accusations made in a tearful
   interview as the defense minister mourned a fellow minister lost to
   COVID-19 on Friday. The minister also said she would only take a
   COVID-19 vaccine if it is developed in Zimbabwe.

   Zhao Baogang, deputy Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe, Sunday said the
   embassy would only comment on the accusations by Defense Minister Oppah
   Muchinguri in the coming week after reaching Beijing as it was a
   "sensitive issue."

   In an interview with an online publication, which has gone viral on
   social media, Muchinguri who is also head of Zimbabwe's cabinet task
   force on COVID-19 - said the pandemic was now decimating the southern
   African nation.

   "We have no vaccine here [yet]. I am not going to take other nations'
   vaccine. Why should we not have ours? We are trying ours here (in
   Zimbabwe) with the Chinese. Maybe it will be successful," she said.

.