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Joseph Madzimure

Senior Reporter

Pan-African Parliament (PAP) members from Algeria yesterday paid a courtesy call on Zanu PF Secretary for External Affairs, Cde Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, to share notes and cement ties that exist between the two countries.

Algerian PAP members were among those voted for Chief Fortune Charumbira for the position of PAP president after heeding SADC’s call for rotation of leadership of the continental body. Cde Mumbengegwi applauded Algeria for voting for Chief Charumbira.

“Algeria obviously played a very important role in the elevation of Chief Charumbira to become the president of Pan-African Parliament,” he said.

“We also have a long history in the liberation struggle. We are very grateful for our Chief (Charumbira) and we are very proud that he is now president of Pan African Parliament and Algeria would have played a very important role because our relationship with Algeria goes a long way back. 

“You fought against the French and we also thank the support that you gave us during our liberation struggle.”

Cde Mumbengegwi said they share the same principles and stood firm against the colonisation of Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic by Morocco.

“We salute Algeria for the very firm and principles that you have taken in support of Sahrawi Republic, therefore we would be very grateful to take this opportunity to be updated on the current state of affairs in the struggle for the independence of Saharawi Republic,” he said.

PAP president Chief Charumbira said Algeria stood firm in support of Zimbabwe to take the PAP presidency.

“Algeria contributed a lot for us to take the presidency of the Pan African Parliament. 

They stood firm and one of the most dependable ally in our campaign was Algeria. 

“It was not just the Members of Parliament who supported us but it also came from the Head of State. The whole nation rallied behind the candidature of Chief Charumbira because of the history that exists between the two countries,” said Chief Charumbira.

Algeria extended an invitation to PAP president Chief Charumbira to visit the North African country.

The head of the Algerian delegation was Mr Abdelmadjid Azzedine, a member of the Council of the Nation and President of the North African Geopolitical Group with the PAP.

“It is our duty to vote for him because he represents Zimbabwe. 

We have been persuaded by President of Algeria Abdelmadjid Tebboune to vote for the Zimbabwean candidature, because of our common principles,” he said.

“He ordered us to support Chief Charumbira personally.”

The National Liberation Front of Algeria and Zanu PF share the same ideology. 

Mr Azzedine was accompanied by Mr Abdelmalek Tacherifte, a member of the Council of the Nation and member of the PAP, Mr Abdelkader Mameri, a studies and summaries officer within the External Relations Department of the Council of Nations. Also present was Algerian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Nourredine Yazid and embassy staff.