President Mnangagwa returns home

Harare (New Ziana) – President Emmerson Mnangagwa returned home on Tuesday from New York, the United States, where he joined other world leaders attending the United Nations General Assembly.

His return also marks the resumption of Cabinet business this Thursday, following a break necessitated by his foreign engagements.

On arrival at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, President Mnangagwa narrated to journalists his successful visit to New York, where he also held several meetings with some world leaders and business people in furtherance of the government’s engagement and re-engagement agenda.

He said he was particularly pleased with the strong show of continental solidarity demonstrated by African leaders who, led by current African Union (AU) chairman and Senegalese President Macky Sall, took gloves off to fight in Zimbabwe’s corner against Western sanctions.

“This time around, we had several Heads of State from Africa who, in their statements to the United Nations General Assembly, implored the UN to persuade America and Britain to lift sanctions (against Zimbabwe.

“I think we had eleven Heads of State who spoke against the sanctions, saying that they were unjust and illegal including the chairman of the AU President Macky Sall of Senegal. Most of the Presidents from SADC also made the statement and others from other regions, and we are very happy with that,” he said.

The European Union, the US and Britain imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe two decades ago to force the government to abandon its land reforms in which excess white-owned farmland was compulsorily acquired to resettle previously disposed black people.

The sanctions, targeting both the economy and individual Zimbabweans seen as central to decision-making in government, are estimated to have cost the country up to US$100 billion.

Speaking of the engagements he had with potential investors, President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe’s investment opportunities had caught the eye of some American investors.

For example, he said, a fund manager running a multi-billion-dollar investment fund would soon pursue investment opportunities in Zimbabwe.

“They (the potential investors) were really big boys in the American economy, most of them are eager to come and invest, they run various funds and the biggest fund was a Mr Davies who runs a $222 billion fund at his disposal which he wants to come to Zimbabwe.

“I am so happy that a group of them may be coming on the 11th of next month to come and look at the opportunities available in the country, in agriculture, in mining and some in ICT. So we are very happy that there is huge interest in Zimbabwe by the American business community.”

Meanwhile, Chief Secretary to the Office of the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda announced that Cabinet would be meeting this Thursday.

“All members are required to undertake the necessary preparatory processes ahead of the meeting as per practice.”

New Ziana