Online Reporter
Nduduzo Tshuma in DUBAI, United Arab Emirates
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa today joins 40 fellow global leaders for high-level engagements at the World Governments Summit as nations seek future-ready strategies amid rapid technological changes and shifting geopolitical dynamics.
Running under the theme “Shaping Future Governments”, the three-day summit also brings together 150 government delegations and over 6 000 participants, including policymakers, business leaders and innovators.
According to organisers, the summit will feature a series of high-level forums focusing on artificial intelligence, education, mobility, sustainability and economic resilience.
The President arrived here yesterday morning and was welcomed 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, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Professor Amon Murwira and Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Mr Isaac Moyo.
He is accompanied by Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi, Information Communication Technology (ICT), Postal and Courier Services Minister Tatenda Mavetera and Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka, among other senior Government officials.
The ministers have been assigned by the President to engage in key thematic areas aligned with their respective portfolios in pursuit of the country’s national priorities.
The President arrived here yesterday morning and was welcomed 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, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Professor Amon Murwira and Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Mr Isaac Moyo.
Dr Masuka, who was awarded the Best World Minister at last year’s summit, is expected to make a presentation in one of the sessions.
The prestigious accolade recognises public officials who have led sustainable, high-impact initiatives driving social and economic progress.
In an interview yesterday, Minister Murwira said today marks a packed programme for the President, who, besides attending the opening session of the summit, will also hold a number of bilateral engagements.
“The President will be attending the opening session of the World Governments Summit and that plenary opening session is going to talk about this general issue of future governments. As you know, future governments are shaped by the geopolitical landscape, they are shaped by the technology and they are shaped by the human capital,” said Prof Murwira.
“In the morning, His Excellency will be attending this opening session, where the overviews are going to be done, and thereafter, His Excellency is going to have some scheduled bilaterals. The next day, His Excellency is going to join again in the future governments’ plenary session, which is going to be facilitated by some very prominent international news people, where he is going to be together with his counterparts to talk about the future of Africa.”
He said Zimbabwe’s presence at the summit demonstrates the country’s growing economic confidence and renewed international engagement under the Second Republic.
“As you know, Zimbabwe is growing in terms of the economy, is growing in terms of confidence under the leadership of His Excellency the President, Dr ED Mnangagwa and the Second Republic. We are really engaging the world with something to offer.
“We exchange with the world whereby we are saying the commercial, the technical, the technological and the social engagement with the world serves our interests because Zimbabwe pursues its interests in a very peaceful manner, in a win-win kind of situation and this meeting provides us with such a platform for future governments,” said Prof Murwira.
He said Zimbabw’s participation at the summit signals the country’s re-engagement drive and its determination to position itself within global discussions shaping future governance systems
“His Excellency has assigned the Minister of Tourism to engage in the tourism section. He has also asked the Minister of Finance to engage on the investment and he has asked the Minister of ICT to engage on the issue of artificial intelligence and the future. He has also assigned the Minister of Agriculture to be engaging because, as you know, our Minister of Agriculture was elected the best world minister last year, so he will be doing his duties and hand over the chairmanship this year,” said Prof Murwira.
“So it’s a very exciting thing which is showing you that under the leadership of His Excellency President Dr ED Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe is engaging and re-engaging the world with the results that are there for everyone to see.”
The Summit ends on Thursday.
