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Lloyd Gumbo Senior Reporter
Canadian ambassador Ms Lisa Stadelbauer, who is going back to her country after a four-year service, says there is need for Harare and Ottawa to improve economic relations for mutual benefit. She made the remarks after separately bidding farewell to Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko and Economic Planning and Investment Promotion Minister Simon Khaya Moyo yesterday.
Speaking to journalists after the meetings, Ms Stadelbauer said Canadian companies wanted to invest in Zimbabwe.
“It was nice to see that the Vice President knows Canada very, very well and understands that the core relationship between Canada and Zimbabwe at this point in time is the relations between our people,” she said after meeting VP Mphoko.
“He remembers the good relations that we shared at one point in time and we are hoping to grow on that. It was largely a courtesy call to say farewell because I am leaving Zimbabwe after four years here.”
Ms Stadelbauer said her meeting with Minister Khaya Moyo touched on economic relations between the two countries.
“He explained to me his vision for economic development in Zimbabwe,” she said.
“He is looking forward to increasing foreign direct investment, which is a positive sign. The economic relations between Zimbabwe and Canada are under development. There is room for improvement there.
“What Canadian companies are looking for is more clarity, consistency and transparency around regulations, particularly in the extractive industry sector which is an area of great strength for Canadian companies.”
Ms Stadelbauer said Canada was one of the largest investors in the extractive industry in Africa, particularly in Zambia, South Africa, Mozambique and Tanzania.
She said she would forever remember Zimbabweans for the warmth they extended to her during her tenure in Harare.
Minister Khaya Moyo said Government wanted to see relations between the two countries improved.
“I have spoken to her very frankly that we had excellent relations for a long time with Canada,” he said.
“Unfortunately at the time of our land reform programme, we had some misunderstandings with the British, but Canada decided also to be part of it.
“But things seem to be changing now as she explained and we are saying as Government that it has always been our wish that we establish good relations with all countries in the world. We have no quarrel with anybody. We have one Zimbabwe, it is our country with its resources.”
Canada and other countries such as the United States, Australia and New Zealand imposed illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe after Britain internationalised its bilateral tiff with Zimbabwe on land redistribution.
Online Reporter