via Spanish envoy pledges to strengthen ties with Zim | The Herald October 1, 2015
New Spanish Ambassador to Zimbabwe Alicia Moral, has pledged to strengthen economic, political and cultural ties between Spain and Zimbabwe. Speaking after paying a courtesy call on Vice President Phekezela Mphoko at his Munhumutapa offices in Harare yesterday, Ambassador Moral said Spain used to have a strong cultural presence in Zimbabwe.
The previous Spanish Ambassador to Zimbabwe Ambassador — Pilar Fuertes Ferragut — died in 2012 in a car accident while on holiday in Namibia and since then, she had not been replaced.
“So now I am here and my main mission will be to strengthen this relationship in the economic field, in the political field and also in the cultural field. Spain had a very strong cultural presence in Zimbabwe and I also want to restart that,” she said.
“There is a lot of ways we can try to reinforce this relationship and culture is always a very good point of departure but the economy is also going to be an important part of my mission here, to encourage Spanish businesses to come to Zimbabwe.”
Ambassador Moral said Zimbabwe was a country with a lot of potential which huge Spanish companies could take advantage of to invest.
She was also delighted that relations between Zimbabwe and the European Union — in which Spain is a member, were improving.
“Things are improving, there is a process of re-engagement and both EU and the Government of Zimbabwe are looking forward for this engagement and I am very happy to be part of this process,” she said.
Meanwhile, the new Zambian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Ng’oma Mwelwa Chibesakunda, said he was also looking forward to cementing existing bilateral ties between his country and Zimbabwe.
Ambassador Chibesakunda said there was need for greater cooperation between Zambia and Zimbabwe because they were neighbours.
“If we do not cooperate ourselves who are nearer, why should we want to cooperate with somebody further, it’s better to cooperate with somebody nearer because we know each other well,” he said.
“There are a lot of Zambians here in Zimbabwe and just as well there are a number of Zimbabweans also in Zambia, so it is very easy to work together,” he said.
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