Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda is in London for a historic three-day working visit at the invitation of the House of Commons.
Adv Mudenda, who is leading a delegation comprising members of
the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs and
International Trade, arrived in London on Monday.
The bilateral visit, which is at the invitation of the Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, is in
furtherance of the Government’s engagement and re-engagement drive, which
has resulted in the thawing of relations between Harare and London.
Adv Mudenda’s programme will include crucial meetings with Speaker Hoyle and
selected committee chairpersons, a guided tour of the Palace of Westminster, meetings with the
British Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) executives, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association executive, tour of Lancaster House, as well as observance of the Prime Minister’s question-and-answer
segment in Parliament on Wednesday.
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs and
International Trade Mr Webster Shamu and committee members Mr Noah
Mangondo, Ms Vivian Chitimbe, Ms Concilia
Chinanzvavana and Ms Auxcilia Dhanzi
are accompanying Adv Mudenda.
Relations between Zimbabwe and the UK soured at the turn of the millennium following the Fast-Track Land Reform Programme.
However, UK’s new Ambassador to Zimbabwe Gillian Joanna Lever recently indicated that one of her top priorities was to strengthen people-to-people relations, as well as enhancing trade and economic ties. — New Ziana/Online Reporter
