Online Reporter
Wallace Ruzvidzo
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa’s philosophies, “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo” (a country is built by its people) and “Leaving no one and no place behind” have gained traction beyond Zimbabwe’s borders and are being embraced by other African countries, outgoing Angolan Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Agostinho Tavares has said.
The diplomat paid a courtesy call on the President at State House in Harare yesterday to bid him farewell following the conclusion of his tenure in Zimbabwe.
In an interview, after their closed-door meeting, Ambassador Tavares reaffirmed Angola’s support for Zimbabwe’s current development thrust.
“I wish all the best to the people of Zimbabwe and I told the President that I learned many, many things here in Zimbabwe . . . ‘Leaving no one and no place behind’ and ‘Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo’. We support Zimbabwe,” he said.
Ambassador Tavares expressed confidence in President Mnangagwa’s leadership as Chairperson of SADC, assuring that the region was in capable hands.
“I believe that, taking into account the experience and pragmatism of His Excellency Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, the SADC Chairmanship is in good hands, it is in safe hands with President Mnangagwa,” he said.
Regarding relations between Harare and Luanda, Ambassador Tavares noted that they have continued on an upward trajectory since Zimbabwe’s struggle for independence. Last year, the two countries signed 11 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) in various fields, including agriculture, higher education, justice and housing, as relations continue to deepen. The MoUs were signed in Luanda, Angola, during the Second Session of the Joint Permanent Commission on Co-operation (JPCC) between Zimbabwe and Angola, which came 32 years after the last meeting.
“As you know, Angola and Zimbabwe have very historical and excellent relations since the liberation struggle. Zimbabwe and Angola are sister countries and during my five years here, last year in May, we finally had the second session of bilateral co-operation between the two countries and we signed 11 legal instruments in different areas to strengthen the bilateral relationship between the two countries. We signed memorandums of understanding between Angola and Zimbabwe . . . we signed the legal instrument for cultural co-operation, sport co-operation, higher education and science and technology, just to mention a few,” said Ambassador Tavares.
He said he had enjoyed his tenure in Zimbabwe, adding that President Mnangagwa had wished him good fortune at his next posting in Cape Verde. The Ambassador also conveyed President Mnangagwa’s greetings to Angolan President João Lourenço.
“I enjoyed my stay in Zimbabwe . . . I choose Zimbabwe as my second home now. He (the President) wished me a very good mission in another post, where I am going now.
“I am going to Cape Verde, a Portuguese-speaking country and he wished all the best and good health to President João Lourenço and to continue to strengthen the relations between Angola and Zimbabwe,” he said.
