Online Reporter
Debra Matabvu-Herald Reporter
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa yesterday met a delegation from the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic at State House in Harare, with discussions focusing on strengthening the two countries’ bilateral relations.
Writing on microblogging site X, the President said the discussions focused on strengthening the two countries’ relations and sought to address key areas of mutual interest.
“Today, I had the pleasure of welcoming a delegation from the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic at State House, led by their Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mahamed Yeslem Beissat,” President Mnangagwa said.
“Our closed-door discussions centred on strengthening our long-standing, historical diplomatic ties and addressing key areas of mutual interest between Zimbabwe and the Sahrawi Republic.”
Speaking after the closed-door meeting with President Mnangagwa, Ambassador Beissat said the delegation had discussed the latest developments in Western Sahara.
He said the delegation congratulated President Mnangagwa on Zimbabwe’s recent election to a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
“I had the honour and great pleasure to be received today by His Excellency President Mnangagwa,” he said.
In the picture collage President Mnangagwa puts on a Daraa, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic’s traditional attire, and while at it shares a lighter moment with the country’s Foreign Affairs and African Affairs Minister Mohamed Yeslem Beissat (left) and Ambassador Jouali Moussa Zaoui, who paid a courtesy call on him at State House in Harare yesterday. – Pictures: Presidential Photographer John Manzongo and Joseph Manditswara.
“I delivered a written message from his brother, President Brahim Ghali, President of the Sahrawi Republic and had the pleasure to inform His Excellency, the President, about the latest developments and ongoing United Nations peace efforts in Western Sahara.”
He added: “It was also a great occasion for me to congratulate Zimbabwe and President Mnangagwa and the people of Zimbabwe on the great victory at the UNSC.
“It is a victory with one of the biggest scores in the history of the General Assembly, which we think is a vote of confidence in Zimbabwe. It’s a vote of support for Zimbabwe. It is a vote against the sanctions, against those who want to impose sanctions.”
Ambassador Beissat also applauded the two countries’ relations based on cooperation and solidarity with roots in the struggle for independence.
He said he was confident Zimbabwe would use the UNSC non-permanent seat to continue to fight for African political and economic emancipation.
“Our relation with Zimbabwe dates back to the years of our common struggle against colonialism,” he added.
“First meetings between Polisario (Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia el-Hamra and Río de Oro), ZANU-PF and liberation movements were in the 70s during the liberation movement.
“This is a long relation of friendship, of common struggle, of common cooperation and mutual solidarity.”
“We are sure Zimbabwe, as a member of the United Nations Security Council, will champion the causes of the African Union, the causes of Africa and among them, and one of the most important of them, the total decolonisation of the continent through the decolonisation of Western Sahara.”
Zimbabwe has, since its independence in 1980, supported the cause of the people of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic in their quest for self-determination and decolonisation from Morocco, which occupied the country in 1975.
