Online Reporter
Zvamaida Murwira, Senior Reporter
THREE envoys presented their credentials to President Mnangagwa at State House yesterday and pledged to consolidate relations between their countries with Zimbabwe in a mutually beneficial way.
The three are from Malawi, Tanzania and Venezuela, who are set to assume their tour of duty after they were appointed as ambassadors to Zimbabwe.
The three diplomats are General (Retired) Peter Andrew Lapken Namathanga representing Malawi, Mrs Suzan Salome Kaganda representing Tanzania and Dr Magaly Henriquez Gonzalez representing Venezuela.
Briefing journalists soon after a meeting with President Mnangagwa, Gen (Rtd) Namathanga said the bilateral relations between Harare and Lilongwe were picking up.
“The Zimbabwe-Malawi relations, I think they have been picking up and they have grown from strength to strength. And I am hoping that my time here will be consolidating on the foundations that my predecessors have already set on the ground. In my discussion with His Excellency, President Mnangagwa, he also emphasized on the issues that we have been working on in terms of agriculture between the two countries, as well as tourism and industry. That will be what I will be focusing on,” said Amb Namathanga, who is taking diplomatic service for the first time after leaving the Defence Forces.
The Tanzanian diplomat said their relationship with Zimbabwe had a long history dating back from the days of the liberation struggle.
“So our co-operation will be cemented to see that we care for the development of our people. As you all understand, just two weeks ago, our President, Madam Samia Suluhu Hassan, have launched our foreign policy, where among other things, the emphasis is on economic diplomacy. So we are looking forward to strengthen our co-operation in areas that will benefit our people. They include agriculture, mining, tourist industry, and adding value to our products, especially those from agriculture and mining, so that we can make our people enjoy the benefits of the natural resources that are in their land,” said Mrs Kaganda.
Amb Gonzalez said Venezuela is focusing on science and technology as President Nicholas Maduro values innovation in the wake of sanctions imposed on it by the United States of America.
She said some of the possible areas include mining, health and agriculture.
“We believe that science and technology traverse across all areas. In order for us to obtain our independence and to evade and overcome sanctions that were imposed upon us, we’ve had to develop our science and technology sectors.
That is the reason why we are producing more than 85% of all our food products,” said Amb Gonzalel.
She said they have established a university responsible for science and technology and that could be used to enhance co-operation with Zimbabwe through exchange programmes.
She invited Zimbabwe representatives to travel to Venezuela to have an appreciation of what that country was doing in science and technology.
