adminAngolan Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Pedro Hendrik Vaal Neto paid a courtesy call on him at his offices at the Zanu-PF Headquarters in Harare yesterday. Cde Khaya Moyo said these meetings were important to make sure former colonisers did not infiltrate the continent.
“I am aware that the secretaries general will be meeting in South Africa on March 5. We have encouraged this to happen so that as former liberation movements we consolidate our unity of purpose so that we don’t get ourselves caught off-guard by yesterday’s colonisers.
“These meetings between secretaries general of our former liberation movements in the region are very important,” he said.
Cde Khaya Moyo reiterated that only African organisations would be welcome to observe Zimbabwe’s harmonised elections set for sometime this year. He said Western countries had nothing in common with the African continent hence they had no role in observing elections in the region.
Vice President Joice Mujuru said Zimbabwe would only allow African observers to monitor its harmonised elections to ensure foreign countries hostile to the country had no role to play in the elections.
Said Cde Khaya Moyo: “What was most significant about your (Angolan) elections in August 2012 is that they were by and large peaceful, free from violence.
“There could have been isolated incidents here and there. But more to that, they were supervised mainly by Sadc and the African Union. That is very significant to us because that is exactly what we look forward to in our elections.”
Cde Khaya Moyo also called for more bilateral economic co-operation between Zimbabwe and Angola. He said while relations between the two former liberation movements Zanu-PF and MPLA were good, that was not reflected on economic co-operation between the two Governments adding that the last joint commission established between the two Governments was in 1992. Ambassador Neto said MPLA and Zanu-PF could not be separated because they fought together for liberation of the African continent. For that reason, he said, MPLA would continue to stand by Zanu-PF.
“The relationship between MPLA and Zanu-PF has always been strong. As you may be aware we had a long period of instability so we had to concentrate on our internal problems and that is the reason why we couldn’t expand our co-operation with our brothers in the region. We are however, trying to put the two countries closer in economic terms.
“I can assure you that we are with you. The MPLA have always been on the Zanu-PF side and we still stand by your side in whatever situation. We are revolutionary parties,” said Ambassador Neto.
He also hailed the parties in Government for agreeing to a draft constitution that is now going for a referendum. Ambassador Neto said they wanted Zimbabwe to hold peaceful elections.
Online Reporter