President Mnangagwa last night left for the Tokyo
International Cooperation on African Development (TICAD) summit where he said
he would meet Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Emperor Naruhito to call
for increased cooperation and support.
The Head of State and Government said the engagement was
aimed at deepening cooperation, building on existing cordial relations which
have seen Japan providing humanitarian assistance and human resource
development.
The President was seen off at the Robert Mugabe
International Airport by Vice President Kembo Mohadi and Ministers Owen Ncube,
Cain Mathema and Oliver Chidawu; chief secretary Dr Misheck Sibanda, senior
Government officials and service chiefs.
He is accompanied by senior Government officials. In an
earlier address at the ground breaking ceremony of the improvement of a
6,5-kilometre stretch along the Makuti-Chirundu Road, commonly known as
Wafa-Wafa owing to steep gradient and sharp curves, President Mnangagwa said
his mission would request for Japan to help fund the remaining 14,5 kilometres.
“I would like to thank the Japanese Government for the
support on the 6,5-kilometre stretch. That is a bad part of the Harare-Chirundu
Road.
“Later this evening (yesterday), I will depart for Japan
where I will meet Prime Minister Abe and the Emperor (Naruhito) the day after
tomorrow (Wednesday) and ask them to help construct the road from here (Mana
Pools turn-off) to Makuti covering the whole 21 kilometres as they have done
before in other projects,” said President Mnangagwa.
The President expressed optimism that Japan would accede to
his request and the launch of the project coincided with the opening of TICAD
today.
He expressed optimism more Japanese companies would invest
in the country.
“I will be leading a delegation to Japan to attend the
Summit and we are optimistic that our participation in the Summit will result
in more Japanese companies investing in Zimbabwe.
“We are eagerly keen to see more mutually beneficial
economic projects between Japan and Zimbabwe. In this regard, I am aware of
Japan’s strong competency around science, technology and innovation.
“My Government has embarked on massive construction of
innovation hubs within our institutions of higher learning in our ambitious
drive to leapfrog our development,” he said.
He said his attendance at TICAD was aimed at ensuring that
the country gets international support for its development aspirations which
seek to overrun years of sanctions-induced stagnancy which has left the country
falling far behind its peers.
Japanese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Toyushiki Iwado, wished
President Mnangagwa well at the TICAD summit saying the country’s development
trajectory fitted well into the ideals of the Summit.
The President said the country’s development has been hamstrung
by crippling sanctions imposed by some Western countries and to that end, the
country was pursuing engagement and re-engagement.
He said there was need to look at the agriculture sector to
ensure that the country has enough food to feed its people and export.
He thanked Japan for the US$21 million facility for the
improvement of the Marongora-Hell’s Gate section of the road which is expected
to employ at least 250 locals.
“The success of the project is ample testimony of the
cordial relations which exist between our two countries,” he said.
“We are further appreciative for the continued support of
the government of Japan for our infrastructure development in general. This has
seen the successful completion of key projects such as the new Chirundu Bridge
across the Zambezi and the Nyakomba Irrigation Project, which I shall
officially open when I come back from Japan.”
He expressed gratitude to Japan’s support towards human
capital development.
“At least 250 people will be employed during implementation
of the project. However, let these be locals including youths and women. We do
not want people coming from other areas to elbow out those from this area.
Herald
0 comments:
Post a Comment