President returns from Russia

From Mduduzi Mathuthu in HARARE
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe returned home yesterday morning following a four-day visit to Russia, during which he held talks with President Vladimir Putin.

Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, speaking at the Harare International Airport, said President Mugabe’s trip to Russia — his first since 1987 — marked a new chapter in Russia-Zimbabwe relations.

“It was an extremely important visit. Yes, there were celebrations, but for us the meeting between President Mugabe and President Putin was very important,” he said, making reference to huge celebrations held in Moscow to mark the 70th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany which ended World War II.

He added: “At the economic and trade level, our relations were non existent, until recently. The potential for further cooperation is extremely great.

“It was important for the two leaders to meet face to face to discuss a wide range of issues, which they did, at global level and at bilateral level. At the bilateral level, we discussed areas of further cooperation in virtually every sector of our economy.

“What was most important was the conclusion. The two leaders concluded that Zimbabwe should send a high level ministerial delegation to go and discuss with their counterparts there in more detail the areas which were flagged by the two leaders for further cooperation and we think this is an extremely important development because this is an invitation which came from President Putin.”

While in Russia, President Mugabe met Russian investors bankrolling a $4 billion platinum mine project in Darwendale — the single biggest investment the country has seen since independence in 1980.

Prospecting work is expected to be concluded early next year, with work on the mine set to begin immediately.

President Mugabe, who was met at the airport by his two Vice Presidents Phelekezela Mphoko and Emmerson Mnangagwa, will chair cabinet today.