Online Reporter
Nduduzo Tshuma in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa today joins more than 40 world leaders at the high-level World Governments Summit (WGS) in Dubai, as countries seek future-ready governance strategies amid rapid technological change and evolving geopolitical dynamics.
Held under the theme “Shaping Future Governments,” the three-day summit has drawn over 150 Government delegations and more than 6 000 participants, including heads of state, policymakers, business leaders, academics and global innovators.
According to organisers, the summit will feature a series of high-level forums focusing on artificial intelligence, education, mobility, sustainability and economic resilience.
President Mnangagwa arrived here yesterday morning and was welcomed at Al Maktoum International Airport by UAE Cabinet Member and Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Shakhboot Bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Zimbabwe Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Professor Amon Murwira and Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Mr Isaac Moyo.
He is accompanied by Finance and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi, Minister of Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Courier Services Tatenda Mavetera and Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka, among other senior Government officials.
The ministers have been assigned by the President to engage in key thematic areas aligned with their respective portfolios in pursuit of the country’s national priorities.
Dr Masuka, who was awarded the Best Minister Award at last year’s summit, is expected to make a presentation in one of the sessions.
The prestigious accolade recognises public officials who have led sustainable, high-impact initiatives driving social and economic progress.
In an interview yesterday, Prof Murwira said today marks a packed programme for the President, who, besides attending the opening session of the summit, will also hold several bilateral engagements.
“The President will be attending the opening session of the World Governments Summit and that plenary opening session is going to talk about this general issue of future Governments. As you know, future Governments are shaped by the geopolitical landscape, they are shaped by the technology and they are shaped by the human capital,” he said.
“In the morning, His Excellency will be attending this opening session where the overviews are going to be done and thereafter, His Excellency is going to have some scheduled bilateral meetings. The next day, His Excellency is going to join again in the future Governments’ plenary session, which is going to be facilitated by some very prominent international news people, where he is going to be together with his counterparts to talk about the future of Africa.”
Prof Murwira said Zimbabwe’s presence at the summit demonstrates the country’s growing economic confidence and renewed international engagement under the Second Republic.
“As you know, Zimbabwe is growing in terms of the economy, is growing in terms of confidence under the leadership of His Excellency the President, Dr ED Mnangagwa and the Second Republic. We are really engaging the world with something to offer.
“We exchange with the world whereby we are saying the commercial, the technical, the technological and the social engagement with the world serves our interests because Zimbabwe pursues its interests in a very peaceful manner, in a win-win kind of situation and this meeting provides us with such a platform for future Governments,” said Prof Murwira.
He said the country’s participation at the summit signals the country’s re-engagement drive and its determination to position itself within global discussions shaping future governance systems
“His Excellency has assigned the Minister of Tourism to engage in the tourism section. He has also asked the Minister of Finance to engage on the investment and he has asked the Minister of ICT to engage on the issue of artificial intelligence and the future,” said Prof Murwira
He said the President has also assigned the Minister of Agriculture to engage.
“As you know, our Minister of Agriculture was elected the best world minister last year, so he will be doing his duties and handing over the chairmanship this year,” said Prof Murwira.
“So it’s a very exciting thing, which is showing you that under the leadership of His Excellency President Dr ED Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe is engaging and re-engaging the world with the results that are there for everyone to see.”
The World Governments Summit ends on Thursday.
