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Addressing guests at the dinner, Justice and Legal Affairs Minister Patrick Chinamasa said the land reform programme opened space to thousands of marginalised farmers.
“When you visit the tobacco auction floors, you will discover that we now have more than 58 000 farmers out of only 4 000 white farmers who used to grow the crop,” he said.
“Much of the problems that we have received have arisen from the land question which we consider the tail-end of colonialism.
“When that is finished you will not hear of Zimbabwe anymore in the media.”
Zimbabwe, said Minister Chinamasa, had nothing to hide on human rights.
He said the visit by Ms Pillay ushered in a new era in relations with the UN that must be maintained.
“What I have said to her is that as a country we are not afraid of anyone to point out any shortcomings and if there is a problem we rectify it,” said Minister Chinamasa.
“What we are strongly opposed to are fabrications and falsehoods which in the end make us not recognise our country.
“If I read the Press, I can’t recognise myself, I can’t recognise my country, I can’t recognise President Mugabe. That is not the kind of relationship we want.”
Minister Chinamasa told Ms Pillay that she should take a message back to the UN that Zimbabwe wanted to fully co-operate with the world body. He said Zimbabwe wanted to play its part in the international community.
Minister Chinamasa requested Ms Pillay to help with availing resources for the recently established Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission.
A building to house the body was recently commissioned but there is no stationery and other necessities for the secretariat to move in.
The dinner was attended by Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Nicholas Goche, Attorney General Johannes Tomana, Justice and Legal Affairs Deputy Minister Obert Gutu and officials from the ministry.
Ms Pillay was accompanied by several officials from her office and her visit ends with a Press conference on Friday.
Online Reporter