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Africa Moyo Deputy News Editor
Zimbabwe and Jamaica are set to strengthen bilateral relations following the move to establish an honorary consul in Harare.
This was said by Ms Mucharonza Rosemary Muchengeti, the Honorary Consul of Jamaica to Zimbabwe in an interview yesterday after presenting her letters of commission to Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister, Ambassador Frederick Shava in Harare.
Presentation of letters of commission formalised her post as Honorary Consul for Jamaica in Zimbabwe.
“The opening of the Jamaican Consulate in Zimbabwe is going to enhance bilateral relations between the two countries,” she said.
“You know that we already have a direct linkage between the two countries, Jamaica and Zimbabwe, and we now want to strengthen those relations and the establishment of this consulate here will see us strengthening bilateral relations in various areas including in sports, you know that Jamaica is a leader in that area.
“So we will enhance relations in sports, tourism, agriculture, education as well as candidature support.”
Ms Muchengeti added that she hopes to facilitate the signing of several memoranda of understanding in areas such as trade, investment promotion, tourism, agriculture and sports.
In the area of sport, Jamaica is looking at athletics, cricket, and rugby.
Further cooperation would be in the health, entertainment and education sectors.
Added Ms Muchengeti: “We also hope this establishment of a consul will address the needs of Jamaicans who are resident in Zimbabwe.
“So we are also going to be servicing our very own; we have several Jamaicans who are resident in Zimbabwe and we are going to be servicing their consular needs including issuing of passports, renewals of citizenship, and other consular services.”
The Honorary Consul will also offer services such as visa issuance to Zimbabweans interested in visiting and furthering their education in Jamaica.
Those wanting to live in Jamaica, an important tourist destination, will also be assisted.
“Jamaica is open for business and is also a preferred destination to live as a family, as a tourist, as a businessperson; so we hope to strengthen those relations,” said Ms Muchengeti.
The Honorary Consulate will also enhance constructive exchanges of best practices in institution building and enhancing both people-to-people and business-to-business engagements.
Jamaica wants to learn in the areas of agriculture, film and broadcasting.
Establishment of centres of excellence in areas like sport and agriculture would be explored.
Equally, Ms Muchengeti said she will facilitate high level visits including by ministers from both Jamaica and Zimbabwe.
It is her hope that “maybe in the near future”, Zimbabwe will set up operations in Jamaica, to facilitate the speedy deepening of relations between the two countries.
Ms Muchengeti said she will also facilitate arts and cultural exchanges, with artists from both countries free to visit and perform.
Recently, Jamaican Chris Martin was in Zimbabwe performing and another Jamaican is expected to come and perform before year end.
“Similarly, we hope Zimbabwe will reciprocate; we want to see Zimbabwean artists visiting Jamaica. We have some Zimbabweans who are into reggae music so they are welcome to perform in Jamaica,” she said.
Jamaica is regarded as the birthplace of reggae. It has a lot of African influence to its culture.
Legendary Jamaican artiste, Bob Marley, performed in Zimbabwe on Independence Day 1980, and since then, a number of artists from that country have come to perform in Harare.
Online Reporter