Kenya visit renews relations: President Mnangagwa

Nairobi (New Ziana)—President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Wednesday said his two-day State visit to Kenya was to renew existing relations between the two countries as well as sign several co-operation agreements.

Addressing journalists at the end of the meeting, President Mnangagwa said the two countries had agreed to upgrade existing bilateral relations to economic cooperation.

He also attended the Zimbabwe- Kenya Joint Permanent Commission Cooperation, which last took place 25 years ago.

The President also held talks with his Kenyan counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta before presiding over the signing of several cooperation agreements.

“Zimbabwe and Kenya enjoy excellent bilateral relations since Zimbabwe attained independence in 1980. My visit to Kenya is aimed at consolidating our relations by refocusing our cooperation to increase bilateral trade, investment, tourism, transport, science, technology and innovation among other aspects such as defence.

“This consolidation of relations is necessary especially in the face of growing threat of terrorism on our continent, in particular in North and West Africa as well as in Mozambique,” he said.

The Zimbabwean leader and his Kenyan counterpart Kenyatta also took time to discuss other regional, continental and international issues of mutual interest to the two countries.

“The current new normal resulting from the current Covid-19 pandemic and resultant suffering and disruption to our economic activities equally received our attention.

“We reaffirmed the need for cooperation at bilateral, continental and global level to deal with pandemics of this nature, now and in future,” he said.

President Kenyatta said the meeting strengthened existing ties between Kenya and Zimbabwe.

“The discussions have not only renewed our friendship and brotherly ties but more importantly, they have reinvigorated our bilateral relationship.

“We have agreed to review the issues on our bilateral agreements in order to allow our people to travel between our two countries freely.

“After a break of more than 20 years, the third session of the Joint Permanent Commission for Cooperation has also been convened here in Nairobi and a number of actions that are key to the envisioned consolidation of our political, social, cultural cooperation have been agreed on.

“Underpinning these actions are seven Memorandums of Understanding that are being signed which will go a long way towards deepening our diplomatic, economic and people to people cooperation and to enable us to work together to address critical issues in particular those related to youth employment and women empowerment,” said the Kenyan leader.

A total of five agreements were signed between Zimbabwe and Kenya during the Joint Permanent Commission Cooperation, a development expected to enhance cooperation in various sectors.

New Ziana