PRESIDENT Mnangagwa arrived here yesterday for talks with
Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Sultan Al Nahyan aimed at striking
strategic mutually beneficial relations.
The President is accompanied by Finance and Economic
Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube, Foreign Affairs and International
Trade Minister Dr Sibusiso Moyo and Mines and Mining Development Minister
Winston Chitando, Deputy Chief Secretary (Communications) and Presidential
spokesperson Mr George Charamba and other Government officials.
Minister Moyo yesterday described President Mnangagwa’s
visit to the UAE as “very important”.
‘‘This is a very important visit by His Excellency on the
invitation of his counterpart, the Crown Prince, and it is an invitation which
is creating a symbiotic relationship and strategic partnership between the
Emirates and Zimbabwe,’’ said Dr Moyo.
“We are going to be discussing different aspects, both the
political and diplomatic, and including the various economic areas which are
beneficial to both countries. It would be two days of hectic discussions and it
will be two days of issues which are going to be decision-oriented and which
are going to be implemented without delay,’’ he said.
President Mnangagwa is today expected to visit Dubai, which
is about 140km from Abu Dhabi.
“As you are aware, here in Abu Dhabi is where the Crown
Prince is, who is the President and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, but
the Prime Minister is based in Dubai and therefore, as His Excellency travels
to Dubai, he is going to be meeting the Prime Minister. This is going to be a
clear-cut area of collaboration.
“Already, His Excellency has accepted the deployment of a
nominee of the Emirates as an ambassador to Zimbabwe and you may be aware that
His Excellency has approved the deployment of somebody as an ambassador to the
Abu Dhabi and to the Emirates,’’ he said.
Minister Moyo said the opening of an embassy in the UAE is
strategic.
“It is strategic because it provides other options of
survival for Zimbabwe. As you are aware, Zimbabwe is under sanctions and
therefore, as we co-operate with the Emirates, this is going to be the basis of
this pursuit. This country is a very rich country as you are aware. This is a
country which is dependent on oil and gas. It has got quite an excess (of
resources) and it is also controlling the global market alternative settlement payment
systems, which could be used by Zimbabwe. They are looking at Southern Africa
and they are looking at one of the strategic emerging market, which they have
identified, and that in Southern Africa, being Zimbabwe, and that is why His
Excellency is here,’’ explained Minister Moyo.
The UAE is a major producer of fuel and gas and intends to
establish a fuel hub in Southern Africa.
Geographically, Zimbabwe is the heart of the Sadc and a
gateway to other regions on the African continent. The country also had plans
to construct a second fuel pipeline from Beira to Harare for easy movement of
the commodity. Furthermore, the UAE is a major buyer of Zimbabwe’s gold. Herald
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