Online Reporter
Nduduzo Tshuma in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa’s participation at the World Governments Summit (WGS) in Dubai has firmly positioned Zimbabwe on the global stage, showcasing the country’s foreign policy outlook, economic priorities and sovereign stance within international affairs.
Held under the theme “Shaping Future Governments,” the summit brought together more than 40 Heads of State, policymakers and global industry leaders to deliberate on future governance models, economic transformation, technological innovation and sustainable development.
President Mnangagwa, who was among world leaders invited to the prestigious forum, participated in high-level panel discussions on governance, economic reform and sustainable development, with the highlight coming on Thursday when he featured in a widely watched panel titled: “Is the Next Decade African?”
The discussion, which also included Botswana President Duma Boko and Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio, attracted close to 30 million online viewers, significantly amplifying Zimbabwe’s diplomatic visibility.
During the discussion, President Mnangagwa outlined Zimbabwe’s foreign policy anchored on the principle of being a “friend to all and enemy to none,” stressing that the country’s international relations are guided by national interests and the well-being of its people.
He reiterated that the land reform programme was rooted in justice and historical correction, stressing that land ownership in Zimbabwe was never based on race.
With renewed investment interest in Zimbabwe and increased economic activity, the President said that despite illegal sanctions, the country has strengthened its resolve to chart its own developmental path.
In an interview following President Mnangagwa’s departure for Harare yesterday morning, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Professor Amon said the President had used the platform to firmly project Zimbabwe’s engagement and re-engagement thrust, as well as its sovereign positioning within global geopolitics.
“His Excellency basically was on the world stage! Yesterday (Thursday), he concluded his visit by a very good intervention on Zimbabwe’s policy of friend to all, enemy to none, as well as open for business policy, advocating for a stable and mature foreign policy asserting the sovereignty of Zimbabwe and the sovereignty of Africa and making sure that this world can develop technologically, economically, but based on mutual respect and on a stable geopolitical landscape,” said Prof Murwira.
“We had a very good meeting. His Excellency had a very good meeting. It was actually an excellent meeting because I think you heard his interventions yesterday about the position of Africa within the geopolitical landscape, asserting Zimbabwe’s position as a stable, reliable and forward-looking nation.”
On the sidelines of the summit, President Mnangagwa held a series of bilateral meetings with business leaders and heads of global corporations, presenting Zimbabwe as a prime investment destination anchored on political stability, abundant natural resources and investor-friendly reforms being implemented under the Second Republic.
The engagements attracted strong expressions of interest from investors in sectors including energy, mining, infrastructure development, logistics, agriculture and renewable energy, in line with Zimbabwe’s drive to accelerate economic growth and industrialisation.
Zimbabwe and the UAE also extended their Government Experience Exchange Programme (GEEP) to 2030, a move expected to further strengthen public sector capacity and improve service delivery under the Second Republic.
The success of the visit was further buttressed by sectoral gains recorded during the summit, with ministers accompanying the President engaging in key thematic areas aligned with their respective portfolios in pursuit of national priorities.
Zimbabwe’s agricultural transformation drive earned global recognition after the country was appointed chair of the World Governing Council for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No. 2 — Zero Hunger — at the WGS.
The recognition follows last year’s honour bestowed on Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka, who was named Best Minister at the summit in acknowledgement of Zimbabwe’s agricultural reforms and food security initiatives.
Following the latest recognition, Dr Masuka addressed a meeting on the state of hunger in Africa and the progress Zimbabwe has made towards lifting the nation out of hunger in line with Vision 2030.
Tourism also featured prominently, with the Government engaging Emirates Airline on prospects for a direct Dubai–Victoria Falls route — a development expected to enhance air connectivity, boost tourist arrivals and position Victoria Falls as a regional aviation hub for the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA).
The development follows engagements between the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Barbara Rwodzi, and Emirates Airline executives led by Deputy President and chief commercial officer, Mr Adnan Kazim, on the sidelines of the summit.
The parties agreed that a technical delegation from Dubai will be deployed to assess Victoria Falls International Airport’s capacity, with a possible agreement expected by mid-year if conditions are met.
Information Communication Technology (ICT), Postal and Courier Services Minister Tatenda Mavetera also participated in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Forum, where she underscored Zimbabwe’s ambition to harness artificial intelligence and emerging technologies to accelerate development.
Yesterday, she met the United Arab Emirates’ Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications and Vice Chair of the World Governments Summit, Mr Omar Sultan Al Olama, to discuss collaboration on AI development in Zimbabwe. Discussions also explored transforming Zimbabwe’s e-government systems, including the rollout of mobile e-government portals to enhance accessibility, service delivery and citizen engagement.
Prof Murwira said the scale and reach of the summit amplified Zimbabwe’s visibility and diplomatic messaging.
“Yes, it was one of the biggest, with more than 40 Heads of State, more than 6,000 bureaucrats here and about 400 ministers, so it was one of the biggest and, in fact, the panel of His Excellency was watched by about 28 million people online, besides the people who were right there at the summit,” he said.
“So this is the platform when we say Zimbabwe’s agenda is engagement and re-engagement. You engage by getting onto the world stage and exactly that was what was happening yesterday.
“His Excellency today (yesterday) is going back home on the back of a very good meeting and we are looking forward to continuing to push the agenda that Zimbabwe is open for business, is a friend to all and an enemy to none. Zimbabwe is a stable, mature and reliable partner.”
The President, who left Dubai yesterday morning, was seen off at Al Maktoum International Airport by UAE Cabinet Member and Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Shakhboot Bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Prof Murwira and Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to the UAE, Mr Isaac Moyo.
Moffat Mungazi
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