G77+China pushes for fairness

Mukudzei Chingwere in HAVANA, Cuba

ZIMBABWE believes in a unified, fair and just world where nations get a chance to pursue their national development and economic goals without hindrance.

This was revealed by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Ambassador Frederick Shava when he arrived here yesterday for the G77+China summit.

Ambassador Shava is leading the Zimbabwe delegation to the summit that brings together 134 countries from Africa, Asia, North and South America, as well as China in their quest to foster a fair world economic order in the face of continued unfair dominance by the West.

On his arrival here, Ambassador Shava, as per President Mnangagwa’s foreign policy thrust of being a friend to all and an enemy to none, said Zimbabwe desires a world order premised on unity thus giving member states a fair chance at pursuing economic development.

Zimbabwe’s participation at the summit comes as the country continues to soldier on with its economic development plan in the face of illegal sanctions and thus find the G77+ China a fair platform to converse and co-operate on mutually beneficial terms.

Ambassador Shava is standing in for Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga, who was initially pencilled in to lead the delegation but couldn’t do so owing to a busy schedule back home.

“I am standing in for VP Chiwenga who should have been leading our participation here but couldn’t make it due to other commitments,” he said.

“(The G77+China) brings together countries which have common ideals which they want to advance and protect especially against those with their own different international agendas.”

“Zimbabwe subscribes to the spirit of working together with countries that foster global unity and encourage close co-operation among the global family of nations”.

Sources privy to deliberations have intimated that the summit will see the global south collectively pushing and committing to a fair global economic order under what they will call the “Havana Declaration”.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Shava is expected to engage in bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit.

He is pencilled to meet senior Cuban Government officials among others during his working visit to the Caribbean nation.

Zimbabwe is collaborating with Cuba in the health sector and such areas where the two countries are already working together might get a reboot when Ambassador Shava meets Cuban authorities.