Online Reporter
Africa Moyo in Maputo, Mozambique
ZIMBABWE and Mozambique should continue working together to translate political independence into economic independence for the benefit of their citizens, Vice-President Kembo Mohadi has said.
In an interview following a courtesy call on Mozambican Prime Minister Maria Benvinda Levy at her offices yesterday, the Vice President emphasised the importance of collaboration between the two sister republics to improve the lives of their people.
“We met and discussed quite a number of issues—our bilateral relations, that is, the relationship between Mozambique and Zimbabwe dating back to the liberation struggle; how Mozambique assisted Zimbabwe in its quest for independence, and how we have continued to cooperate since then.
“We also spoke about what we should be doing to improve the lives of our people economically. We emphasised that although we have achieved political independence—we have our parliaments, our judiciaries, and our executives—what we lack is economic independence.
“We therefore stressed that the limited resources we have should be beneficiated so that when we sell them to other countries, we obtain better prices and thereby improve the livelihoods of our people,” he said.
VP Mohadi said the discussion also touched on areas of cooperation between Zimbabwe and Mozambique, including agriculture and education. The meeting further underscored the need for both countries to maintain peace and tranquillity as a foundation for development.
“Without peace and tranquillity, there is no development. Development can only take place when there is peace and tranquillity,” he said.
Asked by a Mozambican journalist how Zimbabwe has contributed to peace and stability in Mozambique, VP Mohadi said the two countries have a history of working well together.
“Remember during the Renamo incursions, we came here and managed to repel them. And currently, during the Cabo Delgado crisis, we have had our personnel here to provide training and assist the Defence Armed Forces of Mozambique (FADM) in fighting and repelling the enemy.”
Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Mozambique, Dr Victor Matemadanda, Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Dr Omphile Marupi, and Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Chido Sanyatwe also attended the courtesy call.
VP Mohadi is in Mozambique on the fourth leg of his tour of liberation war shrines in countries from which Zimbabwe’s freedom fighters launched the liberation war that led to independence in 1980.
So far, the Vice President has visited Angola, Zambia, Tanzania, and now Mozambique.
Following the courtesy call, VP Mohadi departed Maputo for Chimoio to begin the assessment of shrines. He arrived in Chimoio in the afternoon.
