admin
Farirai Machivenyika Senior Reporter
EGYPT’s Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Hanfy Ali El Gebaly, has pledged his country’s continued support for Zimbabwe in its calls for the removal of illegal sanctions imposed by Western countries.
He said this early this week during a meeting with Speaker of the National Assembly, Advocate Jacob Mudenda, who was on a week-long tour of Egypt.
“In support of strengthening bilateral relations, Dr Al-Gabadi indicated that Egypt would stand by Zimbabwe, especially in the call for the lifting of illegal sanctions against Zimbabwe. He had raised the issue in Brussels on the occasion of the European Parliament- Pan African Parliament Inter Parliamentary Meeting in December 2022,” reads part of a statement from Parliament.
Zimbabwe has been under illegal sanctions for the past 20 years and they have caused suffering to ordinary people, mainly by slowing development funded by global multilateral agencies and the banking system.
Dr Al-Gabadi acknowledged the existing strong bilateral relations between Egypt and Zimbabwe anchored on Egypt’s support of Zimbabwe’s struggle for independence since the 1960s where Egypt was a training ground for early freedom fighters including, notably, President Mnangagwa.
“The host Speaker observed that there is, therefore, opportunity to further strengthen the relations through increasing trade and exploring co-operation in areas that include energy, health, agriculture, construction and housing development for the less privileged.
“Egypt has a wealth of experience in these areas and is keen to share practices and embark on technology transfer with the rest of Africa, including Zimbabwe. Accordingly, both parties committed to strengthening economic co-operation for the mutual benefit of the citizenry of Egypt and Zimbabwe. This requires a commitment to implement memoranda of understanding that have been signed between the two countries since 1986,” further reads the statement.
In his remarks, Advocate Mudenda urged the two Parliaments to carry out their oversight roles in ensuring that signed agreements are implemented.
“Regarding the strengthening of economic ties between Egypt and Zimbabwe, the two Parliaments are obligated through their oversight roles to ensure that the unimplemented memoranda of understanding be implemented expeditiously.
Adv Mudenda thanked Egypt for the positive response to President Mnangagwa’s request for collaboration in the design and construction of the smart city at Mt Hampden. Egypt was also co-operating with Zimbabwe in the construction of the Museum of African Liberation.
Experts from Egypt last year visited the country as part of this collaboration.
The Speaker also informed his hosts that a Parliamentary Friendship Association had been established between Zimbabwe and Egypt and that, it was, therefore, critical that the two Parliamentary Friendship Associations begin to interface vigorously as a way of cementing the two countries’ Parliamentary processes.
Online Reporter