Online Reporter
Debra Matabvu
Senior Reporter
ZIMBABWE and Mozambique share an unbreakable, deep-rooted bond forged in the liberation struggle and the two countries will continue to build on that enduring history by strengthening bilateral cooperation, promoting legislative alignment and driving economic modernisation for mutual prosperity, President Mnangagwa said.
Writing on his X handle after meeting the Speaker of the National Assembly of Mozambique, Ms Margarida Adamugi Talapa at Munhumutapa Offices, President Mnangagwa said the bond between the two countries was unbreakable.
“It was an honour to welcome the Speaker of the Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique, Her Excellency Margarida Adamugy Talapa, and her delegation for a courtesy call at the Munhumutapa Offices today.
“Zimbabwe and Mozambique share an unbreakable, deep-rooted bond forged during our liberation struggles. Today, we continue to build on that enduring history by strengthening our bilateral cooperation, promoting legislative alignment, and driving economic modernisation for the mutual prosperity of our people.
“We remain committed to deep, pan-African solidarity as we work hand-in-hand to foster peace, integration, and development across the SADC region”.
Speaking after the courtesy call, Ms Talapa said the National Assemblies of the two countries would continue to share expertise on the implementation of laws aimed at promoting socio-economic development and improving the livelihoods of their respective citizens.
“We signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two Parliaments, where the actions that will follow are there for the development of our Parliaments, more proximity between our Parliaments, exchange of legislative matters, which will allow the development of our countries,” she said.
“We know that we are in the era of economic independence for our countries.
“The Parliaments are invited to establish conditions for our peoples and countries.”
Ms Talapa also described the relationship between the two countries as rooted in “brotherhood” which dates back to the liberation struggle.
She said: “For us, it is a great honour to be welcomed by the President, because Zimbabwe and Mozambique are two brotherly countries.
“They have a common history dating from the times of the struggle for liberation of our countries.
“The President of the Republic of Zimbabwe expressed his sense of brotherhood, solidarity between the two countries.
“We will continue working together for economic independence for the two countries. He (President Mnangagwa) recommended us, as Parliaments, to establish conditions and laws that will enable our countries to achieve this rapid economic independence of our countries.
“The Parliament should approve laws that meet the aspirations of our peoples and countries.”
Ms Talapa is leading a delegation of Mozambican parliamentarians on a four-day visit to Zimbabwe that began on Sunday. The delegation is expected to return to Mozambique today.
During her visit, she toured the new Parliament building in Mt Hampden and met her Zimbabwean counterpart, Advocate Jacob Mudenda.
She also toured the National Heroes Acre and the Museum of African Liberation, among other activities.
Ms Talapa applauded Zimbabwe for spearheading the construction of the museum which enabled Africans to tell their own story.
“We visited the African Liberation Museum, a museum that we think will tell the real history of the African people, enable Africans to tell their own history,” she added.
Also speaking after the courtesy call, Advocate Mudenda described the visit by the Mozambican delegation as historic and said it sought to cement relations between the two countries.
“The visit by my sister, Comrade Speaker, Parliament of Mozambique, was quite historic. It was a reciprocal visit to my visit to the Parliament of Mozambique in 2024,” he said.
“Her visit here was historic because it was a measure to cement our fraternal parliamentary relations in the spirit of promoting parliamentary diplomacy.
“We have agreed that, following our signing of the Memorandum of Agreement, we continue to work together at the regional level in SADC through the SADC Parliamentary Forum, in Africa through the African Parliament and internationally through the Inter-Parliamentary Union.”
Advocate Mudenda said Ms Talapa’s visit should be followed by further exchanges, including a visit to Zimbabwe’s major tourist attractions such as Victoria Falls and Great Zimbabwe.
He also accepted an invitation to visit Mozambique, accompanied by members of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Portfolio Committee, to strengthen interparliamentary and fraternal relations between the two countries.
