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Adv Mudenda

Nyemudzai Kakore Herald Correspondent
Japanese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Toshiyuki Iwado yesterday paid a courtesy call on the Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda. He pledged to promote investment and to strengthen parliamentary relations between Zimbabwe and Japan. Briefing journalists after the meeting, Ambassador Iwado said they shared common concerns centred on how the two parties could benefit from enhancing trade and opening up their markets.

“The deliberations were very good and enjoyable and we discussed possible ways of promoting the parliamentary relations between Japan and Zimbabwe,” he said. “We also discussed how we can work together to promote our economic relations.

“Three weeks ago, the president of the Japan-AU Parliamentary Friendship Association Mr Ichiro Aisawa visited here and the honourable Speaker received him and they discussed how they will promote relations. l will follow up on our dialogue with the National Assembly and how we can promote the relations.”

On agriculture, Mr Iwado said changing weather patterns called for Zimbabwe to come up with effective strategies like irrigation schemes to curb hunger.

Japan is funding an irrigation project in Nyakomba in Nyanga worth $15 million.

“I just explained that from tomorrow, l will go to Chiredzi district to handover food aid and with some other equipment to boost their agricultural activities because we understand that they suffered very much in previous agricultural seasons through drought and floods,” said Mr Iwado.