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President Mugabe welcomes Organisation of Angolan Women Sec Gen Luzia Van Dunem at his Munhumutapa offices yesterday.

Herald Reporter
A TEN-member delegation from the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) yesterday met President Mugabe at his Munhumutapa Offices to share notes on the two countries’ experiences since the attainment of independence. The delegation was led by MPLA secretary-general Cde Juliao Mateus Paulo.

Speaking to journalists after a closed door meeting with the President, Cde Paulo said their discussions centred on the two countries’ liberation struggles, and possible ways of strengthening relations between Zanu-PF and MPLA.

“We deliberated on our common liberation struggle and the history,” he said.

“We spoke about how our liberation struggle was and where we are today — the development for our countries and the cooperation of our countries.

“Our parties are the ones in power and we will always engage and relate as we always did during the liberation struggle.”

Cde Paulo said his delegation came to Zimbabwe at the invitation of his colleague Cde Ignatius Chombo, who is the zanu-pf secretary for administration. He said the invitation was in line with the usual engagements that the liberation movements in the region always exchanged notes and experiences.

“We came here as a response to an invitation from my colleague from zanu-pf who invited MPLA to visit Zimbabwe to exchange notes and experiences within the framework of our relationship and operations, which we always had as liberation movements against colonialists,” he said.

Earlier in the morning, Cde Paulo and his delegation visited the National Heroes Acre where he laid a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier before touring the shrine.

According to his itinerary, Cde Paulo and his delegation is today expected to meet Vice Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko, and in the afternoon they will meet Cde Chombo.

MPLA has ruled Angola since the country attained independence from Portugal in 1975.

The party fought against the Portuguese army in the Angolan War of Independence of 1961–74, and defeated the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA).