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President Mugabe arriving at the airport accompanied by dignitaries

From Hebert Zharare in Algiers, Algeria
President Mugabe arrived here yesterday for a three-day State visit. He was received at Houmari Boumediene International Airport by Speaker of the Council of the Nation Mr Abdel Kader Bonsalar, Zimbabwe Ambassador to Algeria Cde Edwin Mandaza and embassy officials.

President Mugabe, who is also African Union and Sadc chairman, is here at the invitation of the host President Mr Abdelziz Bouteflika.

On arrival, President Mugabe was honoured with a 21-gun salute, the highest honour to be accorded to a visiting president.

The president meets embassy staff

He inspected the guard of honour mounted by the Republican Guard, the detachment of the National People’s Army and Three Branches of the Armed Services.

President Mugabe proceeded to visit the Martyr Sanctuary, a symbolic memorial of the Algerian liberation.

This warm reception by the Algerians took place a few hundred kilometres from Britain that imposed diabolic economic sanctions on Zimbabwe for embarking on a successful land reform programme that economically empowered hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans.

President Mugabe is today expected to meet with Algerian President Mr Bouteflika and his Prime Minister, after which there will be a dinner in his honour.

The President was seen off at Harare International Airport by his two Vice Presidents Cdes Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko, Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo, Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo, Defence Minister Dr Sydney Sekeramayi and Harare Metropolitan Province Minister Miriam Chikukwa.

He was accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, Industry and Trade Minister Mike Bimha and senior Government officials.

Zimbabwe’s relations with Algeria dates back to the days of the liberation struggle and the two countries have been working together in the area of education, with over 500 Zimbabwean students on Algerian government scholarships.