Online Reporter
Nduduzo Tshuma in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa yesterday said Zimbabwe is open to forging economic ties with any nation, highlighting that the country conducts its international relations guided by what delivers the best outcomes for the country and its resources.
With renewed investment interest in Zimbabwe and a peak in economic activity, the President said, despite illegal sanctions, the country has strengthened its resolve to chart its own developmental path
Speaking during a high-level plenary session at the World Governments Summit (WGS) here facilitated by journalist Tucker Carlson, President Mnangagwa said the country moves on the basis that gives the best results for the country’s resources.
Titled “Is the next decade African?” the plenary session also featured Presidents Duma Boko and Julius Maada Bio of Botswana and Sierra Leone, respectively.
The President has also used his time here to pursue enhanced international engagement, investment partnerships and policy-driven co-operation with global stakeholders.
He said after Zimbabwe gained independence in 1980, most of her development was from the West, but as the country evolved, it has also benefitted from investment and co-operation from China and other countries.
“Zimbabwe is a sovereign state and we move on the basis that gives us the best results of our resources, whether it is in relation to the West or the East.
What is primarily important is what we ourselves, as Zimbabweans, are satisfied with. We don’t need to please the West or please the East. We please ourselves,” said President Mnangagwa.
He said relations between nations are shaped by historical contexts and evolve.
“That’s the basis on which relations grow and are nurtured, for us in Zimbabwe, yes, we are a former British colony, but we’re very happy with the relations that have developed with the same countries like China and so on, despite being a former British colony,” said the President.
He said Zimbabwe has remained resilient and economically independent despite decades of illegal sanctions imposed by Western countries following the country’s land reform programme.
“Our economy has faced challenges, I’m sure you’re aware Zimbabwe has been under sanctions for decades as a result of us claiming our land from the British and making ourselves independent,” said President Mnangagwa.
“We seized the land and gave it to our people, so sanctions were imposed on us.
But in spite of all that constraint we’ve developed and we’re happy that we’ve developed on our own and we feel very independent.”
The President reiterated that the land reform programme was rooted in justice and historical correction, emphasising that land ownership in Zimbabwe was never based on race.
“Land did not belong to a race; it belonged to Zimbabweans, so when the colonialists took land from us, the time came when we asserted ourselves, taking back our land. Those who wanted to have land in the same places as the African people of Zimbabwe remained, but those who felt they were superior left.”
Meanwhile, President Mnangagwa continued engaging potential investors on the sidelines of WGS with the view of marketing Zimbabwe as a safe destination for investment.
The President met representatives of Dubai-based conglomerate Jampur Group, which is exploring investment opportunities in Zimbabwe’s power generation and agriculture sectors.
The Group has interests in energy, mining, heavy equipment and international trade, operating across several markets in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
Speaking after meeting the President, Jampur chairman and chief executive officer, Mr Mohammad Shafiq, said: “We had a very good meeting with His Excellency. We discussed our intention in Zimbabwe related to the power sector, generation, as well as transmission. We also discussed the agriculture sector and anything else that is needed in the heavy equipment area.”
He said the group is prioritising the energy sector as part of its initial entry into the Zimbabwean market, with plans to establish power generation capacity to support the country’s growing energy needs.
Among other potential investors, the President also held talks with DP World group chairman and chief executive officer, Mr Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayen.
DP World is a leading global logistics provider and port operator headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, managing about 10 percent of global container traffic across more than 80 countries. Founded in 2005, the company operates at least 60 terminals, economic zones and maritime services worldwide.
The multinational specialises in end-to-end supply chain solutions, linking factories to customer doors, and plays a critical role in facilitating international trade through integrated logistics, port operations and supply chain management.
The President returns home today after the conclusion of the three-day WGS held under the theme: “Shaping Future Governments.”
