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Memorandum of Understanding expressing an interest to enhance co-operation. The two institutions agreed to share articles and editorials via email and each side would be authorised to reproduce items published by the other, provided that the source is acknowledged.
They also agreed to facilitate representatives from both sides to attend their professional media programmes.
Speaking to journalists after the signing ceremony, Zimpapers editor-in-chief Pikirayi Deketeke said: “This is the second part of the agreement.
“We were in Iran last November and signed the overall agreement with the Iran Culture and Press Institute to enhance co-operation ranging from exchange of news to training.
“This time around the agreement went further and we are exploring possibilities of printing Iranian dailies in Zimbabwe for distribution in the region.
“We are also exploring the possibility of sending our travel magazine, Zimbabwe Travel, to the Middle East.
“The third aspect of the agreement is digitalisation of The Herald library using technologies that they already have.”
New Ziana News Agency signed similar MoUs with Far News Agency and the Iranian Student News Agency.
New Ziana’s group chief executive, Mr Munyaradzi Matanyaire, said: “In both cases the MoUs that we signed provide the exchange of news and information between New Ziana and those agencies.”
Media, Information and Publicity Secretary Mr George Charamba and spokesperson of the Iranian Foreign Ministry Mr Mehmanparast confirmed their governments’ political will to seeing the arrangements succeed.
Earlier, the Iranian delegation toured the National Heroes Acre in Harare.
Ambassador Mohammad Pournajaf said Zimbabweans should respect national heroes – both living and late – for their bravery and dedication that brought about the country’s sovereignty.
“These heroes showed great acts of bravery, dedication and above all love for their motherland. These works should be greatly published all over the world so that it can see the hypocrisy of the West.
“Western nations always complain of human rights violations in other countries yet here today we just witnessed the most barbaric acts committed by the British colonisers.
“It is very important for the youth in this country to know and value their history and its liberators because the freedom they enjoy today is because other people’s sons and daughters’ blood which was sacrificed,” he said.
The Ambassador said Iran and Zimbabwe shared a lot in common, with the fact that the two countries’ leaders were not puppets and did the best for their people.
The delegation commended the Heroes Acre’s artistic design, and was impressed by its AK47 riffle shape.
The AK47 was the liberation fighters’ preferred weapon.
On Wednesday, Health and Child Welfare Deputy Minister Douglas Mombeshora commended Iran for contributing towards revival of Zimbabwe’s health sector.
After touring the Clinic of the Red Crescent Society in Harare on Wednesday, he said the clinic required more space so that it could better serve Zimbabweans.
“First and foremost we appreciate what is being done by the Iranian government to help the people of Zimbabwe. They are charging very low fees, which has helped the public in acquiring treatment, as it is affordable.
“We do not have a say when it comes to the allocation of space for private clinics but I will help them as they have so far proven to Zimbabweans that they are good friends.”
The minister urged other health institutions to send specimens to the clinic so that they exploit the recently commission state-of-the-art TC Matrix Chemistry Analyser.
It can run HIV, liver and kidney function tests among others.
The managing director of the clinic, Dr Amin Hamidzadeh, thanked Government for supporting them.
Online Reporter