‘Zim independence born out of regional goodwill’

Fungi Kwaramba in LUSAKA, Zambia

ZIMBABWE’s independence is born out of the goodwill of fellow African countries like Zambia, and under President Mnangagwa’s administration, Harare will continue to bolster its relations with neighbouring countries, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Professor Amon Murwira, has said.

Yesterday, Prof Murwira was in Lusaka leading a Zimbabwean delegation which joined other nations in commemorating Zambia’s 60th Independence anniversary celebrations.

Zambia played a critical role in the birth of Zimbabwe, as it hosted freedom fighters during the liberation struggle from colonial rule.

Thus, Zambia’s independence on October 24, 1964, heralded a new era for regional freedom fighters, Zimbabwe’s included, offering a launchpad into the then Rhodesia for military operations that culminated in Zimbabwe’s Uhuru on April 18, 1980.

“We are pleased to be part of this historic moment where Zambia is celebrating its 60th anniversary of independence.

“Without the independence of Zambia, I don’t know what would have happened to Zimbabwe, so we take it very seriously,” said Prof Murwira, who was in the company of Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Zambia Charity Charamba.

President Mnangagwa has large footprints in Zambia. Before joining the Zimbabwean political movement, he was affiliated with the United National Independence Party (UNIP).

Led by the iconic late Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda, UNIP was a major political party in Zambia that played a significant role in the country’s independence from British colonial rule in 1964.

President Mnangagwa’s family was at one point forced to move to Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) in the 1950s due to his father’s political activism.

President Mnangagwa, who studied in Zambia during the liberation struggle, has always maintained relations that were forged during the liberation struggle.

He also has a personal scholarship programme for taking Zambian students to Zimbabwe and vice versa.

“We came to Zambia because Zambia and Zimbabwe have strong and excellent relations from the past, now, and into the future,” said Prof Murwira.

“So his Excellency the President ED Mnangagwa, takes our relationship with Zambia very seriously, and he is always present when we are needed and when we have to celebrate.

“We maintain our strong and excellent bilateral relations, which is shown by our presence at important national events in the Republic of Zambia.

“We are together. Zimbabwe is Zambia and Zambia is Zimbabwe. So it means we are together and we were together; we will be together for a very long, long time, which I call infinite time”.

Zimbabwe was among the countries that laid wreaths at the Zambian Freedom Statue, and Prof Murwira later witnessed the investiture by Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema of some of the neighbouring country’s illustrious sons and daughters, who have contributed in various sectors.