Online Reporter
Joseph Madzimure
Zimpapers Politics Hub
ZIMBABWE is seeking to deepen ties with Malaysia by raising the trade profile between the two nations.Harare is strengthening its bilateral relations with Kuala Lumpur in trade, agriculture, technology and business opportunities.
Speaking after signing a book of condolences in Harare this evening following the death of former Malaysian Prime Minister Abdulla Ahmad Badawi, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Professor Amon Murwira said the two countries were expected to strengthen their economic ties to improve the well-being of their respective people.
“Zimbabwe and Malaysia have an excellent relationship. The two countries have got a lot of exchanges especially in human capital development. We are now working to deepen our relations by making sure that we raise the trade profile between our two sister countries,” said Prof Murwira.
He described the death of the former Malaysian Prime Minister as a great loss to the two countries and vowed to keep his legacy by depeening ties between the two countries.
“It is with deep sadness that we learnt about the death of former Prime Minister of Malaysia Abdulla Ahmad Badawi. It is out of this deep respect that we came to sign the book of condolences on behalf of the Government and the people of Zimbabwe. So we are very sorry indeed for the loss of a stateman and for the loss of friend of Zimbabwe.
“We pay for this by making sure that we continue improving and the already existing excellent relations between Zimbabwe and Malaysia,” stated Prof Murwira.
Chargé D’Affaires for the Malaysian Embassy in Zimbabwe, Mr Aniff M Fauzi, said the two countries’ relations date back to Harare’s liberation struggle.
“We have a lot of cooperation especially on international forums. The bilateral relations between the two countries has been productive. The focus now is mainly on trade, education, social and investment,” said Mr Fauzi.
In 2024, former Prime Minister Badawi was admitted to hospital due to spontaneous pneumothorax.
The former Prime Minister died on April 14, 2025 at the age of 85, following complications from multi-organ failure, at the National Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur.
He began his political career in 1978 when he was elected as a Member of Parliament for Kepala Balas, a seat he held continuously until his retirement in 2013. He was appointed to Cabinet in 1981 and subsequently held several key ministerial portfolios.
