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President Mugabe greets Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo as Vice President Joice Mujuru and Presidental Affairs Minister Cde Didymus Mutasa look on after his arrival at the Harare International Airport yesterday from Bolivia where he attended the G77+China Summit.

Deputy Editor—
President Mugabe yesterday returned from Bolivia where he attended the 50th anniversary commemorative summit of the Group of 77+China. At the summit, President Mugabe and other leaders called for a new world order that had poverty eradication at its core, with developing countries taking the initiative in formulating and implementing their own economic and social transformation agendas.

President Mugabe was received at Harare International Airport just after midday by Vice President Joice Mujuru, Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo, other senior Government officials, and service chiefs.

On Sunday, President Mugabe — who was accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi — addressed the plenary of the summit in the city of Santa Cruz, saying countries should strive to attain sustainable production and consumption patterns for the good of all humanity. The extraordinary summit was themed “A new world order for living well”. President Mugabe also reiterated his invitation to the European Union and the United States to review their position on Zimbabwe and normalise relations.

“I am happy to inform this august gathering that in July 2013, that is last year, Zimbabwe held successful national elections which were acknowledged as being free, fair, credible and a reflection of the will of the people by a number of regional and international organisations, including the African Union, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, the Southern Africa Development Community and the African-Caribbean-Pacific states observer groups.

“Despite this positive verdict, our detractors have remained trapped in their negative posture. We call on them to review their positions and join us in re-establishing constructive relations.”

Western countries imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe at the turn of the millennium after Government embarked on the revolutionary fast-track land reform programme that saw more than 250 000 black families being resettled on holdings that were formerly held by just 6 000 white commercial farmers.

In a meeting with Iran’s First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri on Saturday, President Mugabe said Zimbabwe had staved off the effects of the embargo through various strategies, largely premised on national unity and international solidarity within the ambit of South-South co-operation.

The G77 was established in 1964 and is the largest inter-governmental bloc in the United Nations system.
Founded by 77 countries, its membership has grown to 133 covering Africa, Asia and Latin America, but retains its original name and continues to pursue South-South co-operation.