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Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko welcomes Indian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Surinder Datta at his Munhumutapa offices in Harare yesterday

Elita Chikwati Senior Reporter
Zimbabwe should increase its income by polishing and processing its minerals before export, Indian ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Surinder Datta, said yesterday.

Ambassador Datta said this after paying a courtesy call on Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko.

He said India specialised in jewellery making and was earning huge profits from processed gold.

“In India, we manufacture jewellery and the bulk of the jewellery sold in Dubai comes from India. Zimbabwe can do the same and increase its income,” he said.

VP Mphoko said Zimbabwe could benefit a lot from India.

“India has farming machinery and equipment and minerals. India has developed in the area of processing its minerals. You can find people processing gold at home. The skills are important to Zimbabwe because we also have gold and other minerals that we can process and add value,” he said.

“India is a very old friend of Zimbabwe. Our relationship with India dates back to the liberation struggle. India was very active during the Commonwealth meetings and even at Independence, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi came to Zimbabwe,” he said.

Outgoing Kuwait ambassador to Zimbabwe, Ahmed Al Jeeran, who also paid a courtesy call on VP Mphoko, said the relationship between Zimbabwe and Kuwait was important to the development of the two countries.

“Zimbabwe stood by Kuwait in tough times even during the Iraq invasion. We also want to assist Zimbabwe to succeed. We admire President Robert Mugabe and we always look forward to his speeches especially as the African Union chairman,” he said.

VP Mphoko said he discussed on the issue of the completion of the Road between Bulawayo and Nkayi with the Kuwait ambassador.

“Kuwait funds a number of projects in Zimbabwe with different ministries,” he said.