Source: UPDATED: President arrives in South Africa | The Herald December 21, 2017
President Mnangagwa bids farewell to the Acting President Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri. Pictures by Justin Mutenda
From Tendai Mugabe in PRETORIA, South Africa
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has arrived here for his one day working visit to meet his South African counterpart President Jacob Zuma as well as attend a high level business meeting that he will address this afternoon. The trip is part of President Mnangagwa’s measures to revitalise the economy by attracting foreign investment.
He was received at the Waterkloof Airbase by South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana Mashabane and Zimbabwe’s ambassador to South Africa Isaac Moyo. Currently, President Mnangagwa is having a meeting with South African President Jacob Zuma at his Mahlamba Ndlopfu official residence. President Mnangagwa is accompanied by his special advisor Cde Christopher Mutsvangwa, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Dr Lt General Sibusiso B Moyo, Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa, Industry and Commerce Dr Mike Bimha as well as Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Dr Jorum Gumbo.
President Zuma welcomes President Mnangagwa. Picture by Tendai Mugabe
Meanwhile, Environment, Water and Climate Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri has been appointed the Acting President. In a statement, the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda said, “During his absence and in terms of section 100 (1) (c) (i) of the Constitution, His Excellency the President has designated the Minister of Environment, Water and Climate, the Honourable Oppah Chamu Zvipange Muchinguri-Kashiri, as the Acting President of the Republic of Zimbabwe.”
In South Africa, President Mnangagwa is expected to address a high-profile business conference involving Zimbabwean and local business people keen on investing in Zimbabwe.
The meeting comes at a time the Government has announced plans to amend the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act that is viewed by some as a barrier to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
The law requires foreign investment of more than US$500 000 to have at least 51 percent local share ownership with the investor retaining 49 percent. The proposed amendments to the law would see the 51 /49 percent requirement applying only to diamonds and platinum. During his State of the Nation Address yesterday as well as his inauguration speech on November 24, President Mnangagwa put economic growth on top of his priority list.
More details to follow…
COMMENTS
I would be interested to know how differently our new president flew out to SA. Did he use a commercial flight? Did he bus in povo from the western suburbs to see him off….this hero worshiping mus stop. The president of the US presides over 340 Million citizens and his flights in and out are a secretive exercise. Please don’t stop working and contributing to the economy by going to see the president off on a 1 hour flight to neighboring South Africa. Lead by example Mr. President and fly commercial. And when you fly international, try Emirates or Ethiopian.
I am still upset that you gave RG a plane to take on holiday at our expense. We are a very small economy struggling to feed our own people. The whole idea of going as far afield as Singapore for medical treatment when we have our own well qualified doctors here at home is not exciting. Even SA right next door to us has some of the best facilities some first world hospitals even envy. Lets stop the bleeding please.
No long motorcades, no huge entourages and only make visits where its a must. Send the local ambassador or your foreign affairs minister at tines even his deputy.
I had the honor of sitting next to Rre Mogae, the former president of Botswana on a short 45 minute flight from Gaborone to Johannesburg in economy class, yes, economy class. A few years earlier I was on the same flight with the former president of Mozambique, Joaqim Chissano. He was in first class but travelling alone. On another flight, I was with two senior members of the Botswana Parliament, who happen to be from opposing parties, on a flight from Johannesburg to Addis Ababa. They were chatting happily together and one even asked the other to hold his bag while he went to the bathroom. They did not have any accompanying body guns or gunners. Can we Zimbabwe learn something from this. I am told RG’s security has been reduced from 85 details to 20. Does he really need 20. If we have another past president soon, is he also going to get 20. Come on guys, just that RG is not getting time in to face the law for his crimes against the people of Zimbabwe should be enough comfort for him. Lets not spend the little money we have on causes that do not benefit the people first.
Lets start from humble beginnings. Basics first. Jobs, health and education. Only a fool goes off to buy an expensive car when they don’t have a roof over their head.