Outgoing envoys bid President farewell

Source: The Herald – Breaking news.

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 President Mnangagwa greets outgoing Zambian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Derick Livune (left) at State House in Harare yesterday

Debra Matabvu

OUTGOING Zambian and Tanzanian ambassadors accredited to Zimbabwe yesterday bade farewell to President Mnangagwa at State House in Harare, with the two diplomats pledging their countries would continue working with Zimbabwe towards the economic development of the Sadc region.

Addressing the media after meeting President Mnangagwa, outgoing Zambian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Derick Livune said the two countries would continue to implement projects to enhance socio-economic development.

Ambassador Livune was appointed to Zimbabwe in 2023.

“We saw joint trade commission meetings taking place, fruitful bilateral meetings between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Also, fruitful memorandums of understanding being undertaken. You may be aware that Zambia and Zimbabwe are undertaking a project to construct a rail line between the Lions Den and Zambia.

“Zambia and Zimbabwe are also pursuing the construction of a pipeline between Harare and Zambia. Another successful programme because that is where economic emancipation lies.”

The two countries were cooperating in areas of conservation.

“We also have successful meetings, cooperation of the conservation areas, the Zimoza, Zambia-Zimbabwe-Mozambique conservation area and the Lower Zambia-Zimbabwe. There was the huge Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area across Zimbabwe, Botswana, Angola and Zambia.

“All those directed towards conserving our nature, providing that which the young people must leverage on.”

The President receives an artefact from outgoing Tanzanian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Simon Nyakoro Sirro (left) who bade him farewell at State House in Harare yesterday. – Pictures: Kudakwashe Hunda

He thanked President Mnangagwa for his support to the Zambian candidate for the presidency of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Samuel Maimbo.

“He is our candidate for SADC member countries as well as Comesa (Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa) and Africa as a whole.”

Outgoing Tanzanian Ambassador Simon Nyakoro Sirro, who was appointed in 2022, commended the increase in trade and tourism between the two countries.

“Our relationship is very strong,” he said.

“Even at ZANU PF conferences Tanzania’s CCM (Chama Cha Mapinduzi) used to come, therefore the relationship between the two countries is very strong.

“Trade between the two countries is very good, most of the clothes in the CBD come from Dar es Salaam. Previously our flight used to come only twice a week, it now comes four times a week. We have a lot of food that is being exported to Tanzania from Zimbabwe. So there is a lot of trade that is taking place.

“In addition, there is also a lot of tourism between the two countries. We are getting a lot of tourists from Zimbabwe to Zanzibar, with the number of tourists increasing two fold over the past year. There are also a lot of tourists coming to Victoria Falls from Tanzania.

“Another important issue is our history. I was talking to the President about where we came from and that we should not separate now that we are independent states and that we should keep on working together.”