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Mukudzei Chingwere recently in ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire

Zimbabwe and Egypt are keen to resuscitate mutually beneficial economic cooperation, particularly in agriculture, where Zimbabwe hopes to tap into the vast expertise in fisheries developed in the Nile Valley.

Both Governments have agreed on the need to pursue this economic strategy after a meeting between Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka and his Egyptian counterpart, Mr Elsayed Elkosayer on the sidelines of the just-ended high-level meeting on the Theme of the African Year of Nutrition 2022 in Côte d’Ivoire.

The two countries last had a formalised platform for economic cooperation in 1990 under the banner of the Zimbabwe-Egypt Joint Permanent Commission on Corporation.

In line with the Second Republic’s diplomatic thrust of seeking economic cooperation from all corners of the world as espoused by President Mnangagwa’s Zimbabwe is Open for Business approach, Egypt is seen as an important cooperation partner.

The meeting between Ministers Masuka and Elkosayer comes on the back of yet another high-level engagement between Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care Dr Constantino Chiwenga’s meeting with Egypt Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli in June where the two agreed to further entrench cooperation.

As part of its fisheries growth strategy, Zimbabwe has drawn up a 10-year fish farming blueprint that seeks to grow production of the Nile tilapia from just over 5 000 tonnes to 14 000 tonnes annually.

Cumulatively, Zimbabwe’s overall fish production is about 18 000 tonnes per year against an annual demand of 60 000 tonnes, and there is scope for exports.

Collaborating with Egypt is thus a well calculated move as the North Africans are ranked in the top 10 best fish farming countries in the world and also number one in Africa.

“We had a very productive meeting with the Minister (Masuka) of Agriculture in Zimbabwe,” said Minister Elkosayer after his meeting with Minister Masuka.

“We discussed with the Honourable Minister how we could promote fisheries in Zimbabwe, revamping irrigation systems also, capacity building, cooperation also in agricultural research and applied research in the field of agriculture.

“We also explored means on how to cooperate to implement the decisions taken at the COP27 (the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference) in relation to agriculture.

“We agreed to reactivate the MoUs that were signed between both countries long ago so that we update them and sign new memorandums of understanding to boost our cooperation in the field of agriculture,” said Minister Elkosayer.

Minister Masuka said the two countries are rebuilding and re-establishing a very strong mutually beneficial relationship led by their Presidents.

The two also discussed a UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) resolution which will see vulnerable and lesser carbon emitting countries benefiting from a fund to be raised by high carbon emitting countries.

“We reviewed COP27, the recent outcomes and the loss and damage fund that was put in place which should benefit Zimbabwe,” said Minister Masuka.

“We also looked at agriculture now being considered as a separate and discussable item in subsequent meetings. This is great because the small holder farmers are the most affected by climate change and they have the least capacity to respond and they have not caused the problem.

“We also then looked at the MoU that was consummated a long time ago and has been moribund.

“So, we have agreed to resuscitate this and also discuss certain areas of cooperation among them the support of the Presidential community fisheries programme.

“As you know we want to put a fish pond in every village and the Egyptians have experience in running large and small fish farming units,” said Minister Masuka.

He said they also looked at how to develop irrigation efficiencies through research and development.