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Mukudzei Chingwere in MANAGUA, Nicaragua
ZIMBABWE is one of several countries invited to the Republic of Nicaragua’s 45th anniversary celebrations of the Sandinista Revolution on July 19.
Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Cuba Paul Chikawa yesterday said President Mnangagwa was set to be represented by Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga during the commemorative events.
On this day in 1979, the Sandinista National Liberation Front (SNLF), led by current Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega Saavedra, won independence after deposing Anastasio Somoza.
The invitation extended to Zimbabwe is a sign of the strong relations between the two countries, which are now evolving from politics to the economic sphere.
Early this month, Nicaragua opened an embassy in Harare with Ambassador Nadeska Cuthbert presenting credentials to President Mnangagwa on June 12.
“Zimbabwe is among dignitaries who were invited to the 45th anniversary celebrations of the Sandinista Revolution on July 19 and Vice President Dr Chiwenga is expected to represent President Mnangagwa, who could not travel due to prior and pressing commitments,” said Amb Chikawa.
“The celebrations are expected to take stock of the journey travelled as well as the future desired, a future where there is more fairness and justice on the global stage.
“Besides their deep ties forged in the liberation struggles both in Nicaragua and Zimbabwe, the two Governments, led by the SNLF and Zanu PF, are also actively engaged in bilateral and multilateral forums to promote deeper social and economic ties”.
The two countries were members of the Friends for the Defence of the UN Charter, among others, and these were initiatives where a number of like-minded countries had come together to push for a new international, economic and political order to promote harmony and eliminate exploitation in all its guises.
Amb Chikawa said Zimbabwe was one of about six African countries hosting a resident Nicaraguan Embassy.
Besides attending the main celebrations on behalf of President Mnangagwa, Ambassador Chikawa said a number of economic and diplomatic engagements had been lined up for VP Chiwenga.
Since the coming in of the Second Republic, President Mnangagwa has emphasised the need to grow the economy by boosting exports and attracting investment into the country.
To this end, President Mnangagwa has directed all Government officials to engage in economic interchanges in all diplomatic meetings for the benefit of the country.
According to the World Bank, Nicaragua has a great potential for development after benefiting from foreign direct investment and remittances, which reached 8,3 percent and 20,6 percent of Gross Domestic Product respectively, in 2022.
The central American country’s economy relies on light manufacturing, services and agriculture.
“Zimbabwe and Nicaragua are pursuing several initiatives underpinned by their shared desire to improve and promote the economic well-being of their people as well as the world in general and the Global South in particular,” said Amb Chikawa.
“VP Chiwenga is expected to hold several meetings with the Presidency and a number of Nicaraguan ministers.
“The Vice President is further expected to tour some high impact projects and a number of meetings with other fraternal delegations attending the celebrations are scheduled to take place”.
In an earlier interview in Harare, Nicaragua’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe Ms Cuthbert spoke on what independence meant to the people of Nicaragua.
She said both Zimbabwe and Nicaragua are suffering under the weight of illegal economic sanctions, but the embargoes had made them stronger and determined to fight for their sovereignty and the development of their people.
“This is like a second independence. Nicaraguan people have a history of many struggles, many invasions and many people that have tried to destroy our sovereignty. The 19th of July marks independence, marks our identity.
“I believe with the friendship between Nicaragua and Zimbabwe, we will be able to achieve a lot. We will be able to strengthen each other and continue to fight for our people,” said Amb Cuthbert.
Online Reporter