Online Reporter
Fungi Kwaramba in ACCRA, Ghana
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has called on African countries to harness private sector participation and win-win synergies to tackle the continent’s challenges, while emphasising the need to add value to natural resources for maximum benefit
Addressing a State banquet hosted in his honour by Ghanaian President John Mahama last night, President Mnangagwa traced the historical relations that bind Zimbabwe and Ghana.
He noted that Ghana, foremost, was the cradle of Pan-Africanism and also holds the distinction of being the first Sub-Saharan nation to gain independence from colonial rule in 1957, consequently inspiring the whole continent.
In addition to standing shoulder to shoulder in the fight against colonialism and all its ills, Zimbabwe and Ghana share a unique bond as the late founding leader of Zimbabwe, President Robert Mugabe, was married to the late Sally Mugabe, who was Ghanaian.
The President also spoke about the inspiration his generation of liberation fighters drew from Pan-Africanist Ghana.
Just like Ghana, Zimbabwe is undergoing rapid infrastructure development that leverages a knowledge-driven economy and cutting-edge technologies for the efficient development of social services.
“Your commitment to propel Ghana to new levels of development and prosperity is admirable,” President Mnangagwa told his host, adding, “My Administration shares a similar resolve to transform Zimbabwe’s economy to an upper middle-income society by 2030. In our country, we are driven by a development philosophy that says ‘A country is built, governed and prayed for, by its own people’. We, the citizens of our countries, Zimbabwe, Ghana and Africa, have a duty and responsibility to develop, modernise and industrialise our countries and the African continent.
“Partners, investors, well-wishers and others can only assist and complement our efforts, based, however, on our own defined priorities, goals and vision,” said the President.
He pointed out strategic partnerships that have been forged between Zimbabwean and Ghanaian companies in the food and agriculture value chains. A Zimbabwean brand is one of the most visible companies in Ghana, operating in the agriculture value chain.
“These are a testament of how our private sectors can collaborate to deliver African solutions to African challenges, towards enhancing food security, agricultural resilience and climate change mitigation,” said President Mnangagwa.
Ghana, like Zimbabwe, is endowed with mineral deposits and is the largest gold producer on the continent. It is also determined to value-add its minerals for maximum benefit, just like Zimbabwe.
Thus, there are numerous opportunities where the two countries can collaborate further.
“Other sectors, such as mining, provide avenues for mutually beneficial public and private sector partnerships in our jurisdictions. We must accelerate the beneficiation and value addition of all our minerals and natural resources, our God-given birthright of resource endowment,” said the President.
Although Zimbabwe and Ghana share a long fraternal relationship, this is the inaugural State Visit by a Zimbabwean Head of State, something that President Mnangagwa said consolidates and deepens relations between the two nations.
“I recall that the independence of Ghana, under the leadership of Dr Kwame Nkrumah and his declaration that ‘the independence of Ghana is meaningless unless it is linked up with the total liberation of the African continent, was a defining moment for us all.
“As a veteran of the protracted struggle against colonialism, coming here is profoundly sentimental, as it rekindles wartime memories of my generation,” said President Mnangagwa.
“The liberation movements in Zimbabwe received arms of war as well as training and other forms of support from Ghana, towards dismantling the racist colonial regime in the then Southern Rhodesia. We are forever grateful,” he said.
Beyond a shared history — shaped during the struggle for independence — the two countries are now moving towards a future of economic prosperity, driven by present collaborations across various economic sectors.
“As we look into the future, we share the desire for the true independence of our economies, where our people benefit from the rich resources of our continent for a higher quality of life, especially for women and young people. Our engagements therefore, present us with an opportunity to translate our strong historic bonds into practical economic dividends to scale up the modernisation, industrialisation and sustainable development of our two countries.
“Opportunities exist for stronger business-to-business economic cooperation to upscale our bilateral cooperation,” said the President.
Up for discussion during the State Visit are partnerships and collaborations in education and tourism, among other critical areas.
“Zimbabwe is particularly committed to collaborating with Ghana through the proposed Twinning Arrangement between the cities of Cape Coast and Victoria Falls. We must embrace the unique opportunity to enhance people-to-people relations, particularly with the African Diaspora, in line with the African Union’s vision of the Diaspora as the sixth region of Africa,” said the President.
