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Thupeyo Muleya in Maseru, Lesotho
Vice President Kembo Mohadi has invited Lesotho businesses and Zimbabweans in the Diaspora to take up many investment opportunities the country is offering under the Zimbabwe is open for business mantra.
He said the Government had laid a solid foundation to attract investment across all economic sectors in line with the envisaged Vision 2030.
The Vice President was speaking in an interview after concluding a three-day visit to Lesotho between Friday and yesterday.
He was sent off at Moshoeshoe International Airport by the country’s envoy to South Africa Mr David Hamadziripi, who is also accredited to Lesotho, the host’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Mpotjaone Lejone, among other senior Government from the two countries.
During his visit on behalf of President Mnangagwa, the Sadc chairman, the VP attended Basotho’s bicentenary celebrations which coincided with its 58th Independence Day commemorations and also met with Zimbabweans living in Lesotho for an interactive engagement.
He also visited the Thaba-Bosiu Cultural Village which is a critical facility in the history of the Basotho Kingdom that was founded by King Moshoeshoe in 1824.
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The Vice President said his visit was fruitful and he had the opportunity to discuss a number of bilateral and increased cooperation issues with the Lesotho leadership and that it is important for the two countries to maintain strong ties.
“I came here at the invitation of the Lesotho Government on behalf of President Mnangagwa to attend the bicentenary and independence day,” said VP Mohadi.
“We have always had very good bilateral relations with Lesotho and we have coordinated on many things including the Joint Permanent Commissions and the security training at our Defence University where we are hosting a number of security officials from across Sadc.
“Our bilateral relations are good and the trade between Lesotho and Zimbabwe has always been there though in favour of Zimbabwe in most cases. However, we have a number of Zimbabwean professionals based here who have set up businesses, among other things”.
He said the people to people interactions between Zimbabweans and Basotho were encouraging and hence it was critical to translate that into the promotion of economic development.
Vice President Mohadi said the Basotho were welcome to invest in Zimbabwe and that the Government was guaranteeing the safety of their investment and remittances back to Lesotho.
About the Zimbabwean Diaspora concerns mainly to do with the prohibitive permits processing cost and delays in processing of the same permits, Vice President Mohadi said the issue was receiving attention through the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage and the Embassy in South Africa.
“We have met with our nationals here to appreciate their issues and challenges. As a Government we are committed to the welfare of our people at home and abroad and I have already re-assured them that we will look into the matters through our Mission in South Africa and the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage,” said the Vice President.
“In addition, to our promise, we encourage our diaspora community to leverage on the Zimbabwe is open for business mantra and take up opportunities to participate in national economic development matters.
“At the same time, we welcome investment from Lesotho since we are currently having a lot of skills transfer programmes where we are learning from each other”.
He continued, “They are welcome to invest in many sectors in Zimbabwe and create employment and infrastructure development”.
Online Reporter