Online Reporter
Nyore Madzianike
Senior Reporter
ZIMBABWE and France continue to strengthen their relations in various areas of cooperation with the two nations having recently combined forces to spruce up the Great Zimbabwe monuments and construct a visitor’s centre in Masvingo.
Yesterday, France Ambassador to Zimbabwe Paul Bertrand Barets paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Kazembe Kazembe at his offices in Harare where they explored various areas to strengthen their relations.
Speaking after the meeting, Minister Kazembe expressed gratitude for the support from the French Government.
“As you would appreciate, we have a long relationship with the French government. We work very well together in various fields. For our ministry in particular, they assist us in a lot of cultural fields.
“They assisted us at Khami Ruins years back. They have assisted us at Matopos. They did some work for us there. But currently, they are helping us in sprucing up, if you like, Great Zimbabwe. We are working very well together there. As you would know, Great Zimbabwe is a world heritage site. And we are happy and grateful that they have come on board to assist us,” he said.
Minister Kazembe indicated that work has already begun towards face-lifting Great Zimbabwe monuments and construction of the visitors centre.
“A lot of work has started there. They are trying to set up a visitor’s centre, if you like, just to try and spruce it up, to give it that image that is consistent with a world heritage site.
“So we are very grateful for that assistance. So those are the issues that we have discussed,” he said.
Minister Kazembe also indicated that they discussed areas of broadening their ties in security and capacitation.
“We have also spoken about other potential areas of co-operation, as you would appreciate, as a Ministry, we preside over the police.
“We preside over immigration, border management control, border control, as well as civil registry.
“So we are talking about potential areas of cooperation with regards to technology, capacitation, and things like that.”
Ambassador Barets said they were looking forward to completing constructing the visitors centre and sprucing the Great Zimbabwe by end of year.
He also looked forward to strengthen ties in heritage, culture and science.
“We indeed talked about co-operation between both our countries in this field of heritage, culture, science, that are very much at the heart of the historical relationship between both our countries.
“We touched upon the Great Zimbabwe project that is on-going with the building now of a visitor centre that may be achieved by the end of the year.
“So we are, the minister and myself, very much eager to conclude this important partnership that is touching upon something that is dear to both our countries, because we cherish a lot of heritage, historical heritage,” Ambassador Barets said.
He said they found it important to spruce up Great Zimbabwe, as it is an important site in the region.
“It is a world heritage site, so it is meaningful for all mankind. It is so important for Southern Africa, Africa and mankind as a whole.
“It really highlights as much as possible the beauty and values of the Great Zimbabwe site,” the French envoy said.
