daniel chigunwe
Farirai Machivenyika
Senior Reporter
The National Assembly last week ratified Zimbabwe’s agreement with Rwanda to establish mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.
In an agreement in Harare on March 19, 2021, the two countries seek to enhance cooperation in the fight against crime.
The motion to ratify the agreement was moved in the National Assembly by Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi.
Minister Ziyambi said the agreement would enable the two countries to provide assistance in investigations, prosecutions and other legal proceedings related to criminal matters.
“Zimbabwe is desirous of ratifying the agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters and in terms of Article 26 of the agreement, the entry into force of the aforesaid agreement shall be upon 30 days after the date on which the parties have notified each other in writing that their respective constitutional requirements for entry into force of the agreement have been complied with,” he said.
The agreement was ratified as required by the country’s Constitution.
Zimbabwe and Rwanda relations have grown significantly since the coming in of the Second Republic under President Mnangagwa resulting in the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2019.
Last week, the two countries met in Harare for the Mid-Term Review of the 30 memorandums of understanding signed during the Second Session of the Zimbabwe-Rwanda Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation held in Rwanda.
The two countries expressed satisfaction with the progress made in the implementation of the agreements.
These memorandums cover a wide range of sectors including security, immigration, taxation, trade and investment cooperation, tourism, climate change, transport, agriculture, mineral resources, housing, exchange of educational personnel and expertise and media and broadcasting.
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu