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VP Mnangagwa

Fidelis Munyoro Chief Reporter
Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday met Cuban and Japanese ambassadors at his Munhumutapa offices and discussed a wide range of issues including bilateral relations. Outgoing Cuban Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Elio Savan Oliva was the first to meet VP Mnangagwa. He told reporters after the meeting that although he had come to bid farewell to the VP, the two discussed several issues to do with bilateral relations.

“I came here to bid farewell as I am coming to the end of my duty in Zimbabwe and convey my feelings about the country. We also discussed our countries’ friendship that is continuing growing from strength to strength in all areas of cooperation,” said Mr Oliva.

He said Zimbabwe is a great country with great potential for development despite it facing a myriad challenges. This, he said, was evidenced by the achievements that have been registered in the face of economic hardships obtaining in the country.

“Zimbabwe is great. Yes, there are challenges, but it is making achievements. The Government’s agriculture programme is magnificent and the will of the people of Zimbabwe to move forward is great,” he said.

Mr Oliva said during his tenure he ensured that relations between the two countries improved. He cited cooperation in education and health sectors as fantastic. He said during his term delegations from both countries exchanged visits and his country was in the process of implementing a sport agreement signed two years ago.

Japanese Ambassador Mr Toshiyuki Iwado said he assured VP Mnangagwa that since his arrival in the country two months ago, he had hit the ground running, following up on the mega deals signed between President Mugabe and Japanese Prime Minister Mr Shinzo Abe last year. President Mugabe went to Japan in March last year and sealed vital economic agreements with Mr Abe.

“Like I said before, my major task is following up on the joint statement signed by my Prime Minister and President Mugabe when he visited Japan last year. We discussed how we can promote bilateral cooperation between this country and Japan. We also touched on government assistance on health, agriculture, and disaster assistance among others,” said Mr Iwado.