By A Correspondent- South Africa has donated 5 625 tonnes of mealie meal worth 50 million rands to Cyclone Idai victims.

The first batch of 272 tonnes was handed over to President Emmerson Mnangagwa this morning at State House by South Africa Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor.

South Africa made the pledge in 2019 and Pandor said the donation could not come on time because of the COVID-19 pandemic that restricted movement.

Speaking during the handover of the South African mealie meal consignment, Mnangagwa said the donation was timely as it coincided with the commemoration of Africa Day.

He said:

We are pleased to be receiving this donation especially today on May 25, Africa Day when the whole continent is celebrating the successes of our collective fight against colonialism and apartheid.

Cyclone Idai was a powerful tropical cyclone that ripped through Eastern parts of the country on the night of 15 March 2019 claiming hundreds of lives and leaving a trail of destruction to property and infrastructure.