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Nduduzo Tshuma in Sironko, Uganda
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa was yesterday accorded by his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni with the highest honour in that country, The Most Excellent Order of the Pearl of Africa, The Grand Master.
The honour was given to President Mnangagwa, who was a special guest during the country’s 57th Independence Day celebrations here, in recognition of his contribution to the liberation of Zimbabwe and other Southern African countries and continued efforts by the Head of State to improve the lives of his people.
“His Excellency President Mnangagwa is a visionary, pragmatist, Pan Africanist, peacemaker and unifier who is committed to improving the quality of life of the people of Zimbabwe. His history is characterised by selfless dedication and sacrificial service to his country,” read part of the citation before President Museveni conferred President Mnangagwa with the honour.
The citation also traced President Mnangagwa’s history from the time his parents were exiled to Zambia by the colonialist regime in the then Southern Rhodesia and his joining of active politics in the United National Independence Party youth league in Zambia.
It also traced President Mnangagwa’s journey as a liberation fighter receiving military training in Tanzania where he helped set up the first camp that trained cadres from different movements in Southern Africa before proceeding to Egypt and later China where up to now, he remains an honorary officer of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.
The citation also mentioned the role President Mnangagwa played in uniting the former Zanla and Zipra liberation military wings into the Zimbabwe National Army after Independence in 1980 and the various portfolios he held in the Government until his ascendancy to the Presidency.
President Mnangagwa said he was humbled by the honour bestowed upon him by President Museveni. “On behalf of my delegation and indeed on behalf of the people of Zimbabwe, I feel extremely humbled by the honour you have bestowed not on me but on my country, I represent my country. This is in recognition of the journey we have travelled as a people, as a country to where we are today, committed to develop our country, committed to integrate with the rest of our region, with the rest of the African continent,” he said.
“Uganda has today, on the 57th anniversary of your independence and freedom, given recognition to Zimbabwe. I humbly accept on behalf of my country, I thank you.”
In his address, President Museveni said his country was equally committed to cooperate with Zimbabwe.
“I would like to welcome our brother, His Excellency President Mnangagwa for agreeing to come and join us in this occasion of our celebration. When you have a feast and a relative comes to join you, that act consolidates the brotherhood and sisterhood,” he said.
“His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa was here last in 1963 when he was being smuggled out to go to China for military training. Recently he invited me to be a guest of honour at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair…I want to thank President Mnangagwa for agreeing to come and check his relatives in the Great Lakes and on this occasion, Uganda’s 57th Independence anniversary.”
On the continued bullying of African states by powerful Western nations, President Museveni said political and economic cooperation at regional and continental level would bring prosperity to Africa.
“Uganda cannot develop alone, it needs Africa, the Common Market for East and Southern Africa and now the Continental Free Trade Area, you cannot sustain production if one cannot buy what you are producing or if the market is taking small quantities of what you are producing. Therefore, the CFTA is a matter of life and death for Africa,” he said.
President Museveni said the CFTA will not only absorb products of African industries but will also empower the continent to negotiate with countries from other continents at an almost equal level.
“Because a big man cannot negotiate with a small man, we see European countries busy imposing sanctions on Zimbabwe. And they have been suffering for 20 years. When USA places China on sanctions, China places the USA on sanctions also but in another situation where someone strikes you and you cannot strike him back, that’s a disaster,” said President Museveni.
“That is what has been happening, Zimbabwe has been hit with sanctions for 20 years…that’s why we say CFTA is for our salvation. Economic integration under the CFTA is for the prosperity of our people in Africa.”
Meanwhile, President Museveni conveyed his message of condolences to President Mnangagwa following the death of former President Cde Robert Mugabe on September 6 this year.
He said Cde Mugabe made a historic contribution to the liberation of Zimbabwe before asking attendants to observe a moment of silence in his honour.
The celebrations were attended by diplomats from neighbouring countries including Kenya, Rwanda, Gabon, Democratic Republic of Congo and China among other countries.
Online Reporter