Online Reporter
Nyore Madzianike-Senior Reporter
ZIMBABWE and Serbia are set to open a new chapter in bilateral relations with the two countries already in the process of signing a Memorandum of Understanding on areas of cooperation.
The two countries want to share synergies in human capital development, education, security and traffic management.
Yesterday, the Serbian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Radisa Grujic, paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Kazembe Kazembe, at his offices in Harare to discuss how the two nations can consolidate areas of co-operation.
Speaking after the meeting, Minister Kazembe said they agreed to start working on the paperwork towards the signing of the MoU.
“We are looking forward to reigniting that relationship by way of, you know, we have agreed that we should start the paperwork which will lead to the signing of an MoU.
“Our objective is to co-operate in various areas, areas of fighting against the drugs scourge, they also have drug issues, everyone has drug issues the world over.
“As you would appreciate, as a country we are doing our utmost to fight against the drug menace.
“I am sure there is a lot that we can share, we can learn from each other. We have also agreed to look at the possibility of working together in the field of policing, traffic management, and all those things.
“The fight against terrorism, we need to be prepared for such eventualities, and there’s a lot that we can learn from them.
“We spoke about culture as well. We spoke about cultural heritage and so we have agreed that we will start work towards the signing of an MoU.
“We will start the paperwork. There is a lot of processes that will follow, but the good thing is we have agreed to kick-start the whole process.
“So we are very excited and we hope and trust that there are good things to come,” he said.
Ambassador Grujic echoed the same sentiments, saying there are a lot of areas of cooperation which would be opened between the two countries.
He said the cooperation will be based on the long-standing, traditional and friendly relationship between Serbia and Zimbabwe.
As part of his country’s commitment to cement relations, Ambassador Grujic pledged to increase the number of students studying in Serbia on scholarships from four to 31 next year.
“I wish to take this opportunity to inform all of you and to inform the Honourable Minister that we respect the capacity, human capacity and educational knowledge of Zimbabwean people and students.
“We have decided to increase the number of scholarships offered by the Government of Serbia to the Government of Zimbabwe through the Presidential Scholarship to 30 per year. This means that very soon, in a few months, it will be 30 plus 1, so 31 students will go to study in Serbia,” he said.
Ambassador Grujic indicated that the scholarship programme started in 2003, adding that the two countries can benefit from exchange programmes and seminars.
He also said Serbia is a good investment destination, where Zimbabwe can also benefit.
“That’s one of the areas on which we can base more focus, especially within the cooperation between the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage and Ministry of Internal Affairs. We need to share experiences, knowledge and help each other through training, seminars, visits and expertise.
“Serbia is very experienced as we are on the road to be a full member of the European Union, but at the same time our strategic partners are China and Russia, and Serbia is always like a house on the road.
“If you look on the map, our geostrategic position is like Zimbabwe. We are on the main corridor from north to south, from east to west, corridor 10, European corridor 10, and there is a lot of competition for the big power, how to control the history, geography from centuries, but now Serbia is one of the very big investment places.”
