President back from India

Cletus Mushanawani recently in New Delhi, India
President Mugabe, who is also the African Union chairman, arrived back home on Saturday night from the third India-Africa Forum Summit which ended in New Delhi last Thursday. Despite speculation about his health by the private media, the energetic President Mugabe, who was accompanied by the First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe whom he picked up during a brief stop-over in Dubai, was welcomed Vice Presidents Cdes Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko, ministers and senior government officials.

President Mugabe was also the co-chairman of the India-Africa Forum Summit with host Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The just-ended India-Africa Forum Summit was the biggest in history as 54 African nations were represented. The host nation availed a $10 billion line of credit for Africa and Zimbabwe is poised to benefit immensely from the facility in energy, agriculture, infrastructure development and technology areas in line with the country’s economic blueprint, Zim-Asset.

While in India, President Mugabe led African leaders for bilateral talks with Prime Minister Modi, which Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi described as fruitful. President Mugabe’s hectic schedule saw him meeting the Indian business community on Tuesday where at least 21 companies showed great interest in investing in the country.

On Thursday, President Mugabe and Prime Minister Modi addressed the India-Africa Forum Summit where they clearly articulated Africa and India’s aspirations in global politics as well as enhancing economic co-operation between the two continents. Both leaders said it was important for Africa and India to speak with one voice in their push for permanent seats in the United Nations Security Council..

They also called for equal representation of member States as some members of the Security Council view themselves as giants, while others are seen as dwarfs.