ZIMBABWE remains committed to strengthening ties and cooperation with all members of the international community, President Mnangagwa has said.
He made the remarks yesterday after receiving letters of credence from Ambassadors-designate from Equatorial Guinea, New Zealand, Slovakia and Georgia.
Writing on the micro-blogging platform X, the President underscored Harare’s commitment to strengthening relations through renewed dialogue and cooperation with all countries.
“Today at State House, I had the honour of receiving the credentials of the incoming Ambassadors, namely H.E. Domingo Mituy Edjang Adugu of Equatorial Guinea, H.E. Philip Hewitt of New Zealand, H.E. Roland Beridze of Georgia, and H.E. Vladimir Gracz of Slovakia, thereby further strengthening global ties through engagement and re-engagement,” wrote the President on his official X handle.
The President poses for a photograph with Slovak Republic’s Ambassador-designate to Zimbabwe, Mr Vladimir Gracz (second from right) at State House yesterday. Also present are Acting Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Ambassador Frederick Shava (left) and Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Albert Chimbindi (right)
Equatorial Guinea’s Ambassador Adugu, whose President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo is expected in Zimbabwe tomorrow for a two-day State visit, said his main mission was to ensure that relations between the two countries were strengthened.
“Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea are two countries that have a good relationship. My mission here in Zimbabwe basically is to strengthen the good relationship between both countries. As you know, the President of Equatorial Guinea is one more son of Zimbabwe, he is Pan-Africanist,” he said.
Ambassador Hewitt from New Zealand said he would champion collaboration between his country and Zimbabwe in the agriculture, trade and education sectors.
“New Zealand and Zimbabwe have long-standing cordial relationships and we want to continue. There are opportunities for us to work together in the agricultural space, in the trade negotiation space and in the education space, so we look forward to the opportunity,” he said.
The President congratulates incoming Georgian envoy to Harare, Mr Roland Beridze after receiving his credentials at State House in Harare yesterday
The New Zealand diplomat said during his closed-door meeting with President Mnangagwa, he had conveyed his desire to see an increase in the two countries’ cooperation across the board.
“We had a good discussion with the President and I think we have an opportunity to see how we can work together into the future,” he said.
The Republic of Slovakia’s Ambassador Gracz said cooperation between the two countries was on the rise, primarily in the cybersecurity sector.
“One (Slovak) cybersecurity company is producing five or so anti-virus systems, and these are present in some institutions already in Zimbabwe…it is something that is very, actually very exposed and very important to pay attention to.
“So, we will see how to expand this presence in the field of cyber security and digital resilience and because it is not only the technical part, I mean the system or the anti-virus firewall, but also the training of transmitting the skills, how to protect the systems and so on,” he said.
“So, we are offering this as well…it is very concrete.”
President Mnangagwa receives credentials from incoming Equatorial Guinea Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Domingo Mituy Edjang Adugu at State House in Harare yesterday. Looking on is Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Ambassador Albert Chimbindi (centre). — Pictures: Believe Nyakudjara
Ambassador Gracz said there was also an increase in the number of Zimbabweans working in the Slovak Republic, particularly in the transport sector, with Zimbabwean students also learning in Slovakia’s institutions of higher learning.
“I think we have hundreds of very hardworking, honest and well-educated truck drivers from Zimbabwe (working in) Slovakia. So, it is a pleasure to cooperate with them. We have some students as well from Zimbabwe studying in Slovak universities. So, there is potential for cooperation for the future,” said Ambassador Gracz.
Ambassador Breidze from Georgia said he had held fruitful deliberations with President Mnangagwa, and they had been able to discuss possible areas for collaboration between the two countries.
“We have had a very, very good conversation at this moment, in which the President outlined the areas of our possible potential cooperation. I would like to say that during my tenure as an ambassador of Georgia in the Republic of Zimbabwe, I will spare no effort in promoting and developing our relations in various spheres, like political, economic and cultural,” he said.
The Georgian Ambassador said the two countries were working to establish a framework for cooperation in various areas.
“We are planning to establish a working legal base, agreements in the areas, various areas. And I hope that Georgian businesses will be interested in coming to Zimbabwe and seeing the opportunities for investment. And I hope that I will work to my best to make them come over,” said Ambassador Breidze.
