adminFrom Nduduzo Tshuma in Equatorial Guinea
PRESIDENT Mugabe arrived in the Equatorial Guinea from Nigeria yesterday for a two-day working consultative visit ahead of the African Union Summit in South Africa in June.
The African Union and Sadc chairperson was in Nigeria to witness the swearing in of the country’s President Mohammadu Buhari.
The President who is accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Cde Simbarashe Mumbengegwi was welcomed by his counterpart Obiang Nguema Mbasogo and members of his cabinet at the Malibo International Airport.
He inspected a guard of honour before being driven to the Presidential palace where the two leaders held discussions that lasted more than an hour.
President Nguema Mbasogo also hosted dinner for President Mugabe.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Mr George Charamba said the President was sampling opinions regarding developments not only on African sub-regional issues but also on key continental issues including the aspect of representation in international organisations.
Mr Charamba said the two leaders discussed the presence of Africa in the United Nations Security Council.
“The position of Africa is under threat so they are sharing opinions in terms of how to strengthen the Ezulwini Consensus which summarises the African position regarding the restructuring of the United Nations Security Council and this is likely to be a very key issue in the Johannesburg Summit,” said Mr Charamba.
The two countries have very close relations with Equatorial Guinea giving Zimbabwe energy facilities to access fuel. The countries have shared security operations with Zimbabwe thwarting a coup attempt by mercenaries led by Simon Mann.
Zimbabwe also deployed a combined security force to the country to secure the Africa Cup of Nations games in January.
Mr Charamba said yesterday’s visit, in light of the countries’ history of co-operation, was testimony of ever growing relations. The two-day stop-over working visit by President Mugabe is enroute to Sudan where he will witness the inauguration of the country’s President Omar Al-Bashir on Tuesday. At the Abuja International Airport, President Mugabe had a five-minute talk with former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo who was the head of the AU observation team in Sudan.
Obasanjo took advantage of the President’s presence in Nigeria to share his experience at the elections ahead of the inauguration. The Sudanese elections were endorsed by the Arab League as free and fair with the AU saying the polls represented the wishes of the people.
Online Reporter