Source: The Herald – Breaking news.
President Mnangagwa speaks at a bilateral meeting with his Ugandan counterpart, President Yoweri Museveni, on the sidelines of the 11th Session of the African Regional Forum on Sustainable Development at Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort Convention Centre in Kampala, Uganda, yesterday. — Picture: Presidential Photographer Tawanda Mudimu. 
Wallace Ruzvidzo in KAMPALA, Uganda
ZIMBABWE and Uganda should revive collaboration in the tourism sector through establishing direct flights to tourist resorts like Victoria Falls, President Mnangagwa has said.
To that end, the President called upon both countries’ Tourism ministers to act swiftly and restore collaboration in the critical tourism sector.
President Mnangagwa and his Ugandan counterpart President Yoweri Museveni held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 11th Session of the African Regional Forum on Sustainable Development here yesterday.
In his remarks during the meeting, President Mnangagwa said the recent commencement of flights by Uganda Airlines to Zimbabwe was a show of goodwill towards strengthening relations between the two countries.
Frequent flights between the two destinations have resultantly stimulated bilateral trade as the route sees up to 9 000 passengers travelling between the two destinations, with the volume expected to grow.
“I further wish to acknowledge that a significant step towards collaborative efforts to boost trade and investment between the two countries was the new Entebbe-Harare Uganda Airlines route. Zimbabwe is willing to grant freedom rights to Uganda Airlines,” President Mnangagwa said.
Although Harare was the immediate target route, Uganda Airlines also intends to service the Entebbe-Victoria Falls and the Entebbe-Lusaka-Bulawayo routes, which President Mnangagwa said would be a welcome development.
“In this regard, I wish that the Ministers of Tourism of Zimbabwe and Uganda should begin the process to revive collaboration in this sector, which is now long overdue,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said Harare and Kampala continued to enjoy warm relations dating back to Zimbabwe’s protracted liberation struggle.
“I wish my dear brother to acknowledge the cordial relations which do exist between Zimbabwe and Uganda, which date back to Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle and the high-level visits that have taken place between the two countries since the advent of the Second Republic, as testimony of these warm relations between us.
President Mnangagwa is welcomed by Vice Presidents Dr Constantino Chiwenga (right) and Kembo Mohadi (centre) at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare yesterday on arrival from the 11th Session of the African Regional Forum on Sustainable Development in Kampala, Uganda. – Picture: Edward Zvemisha.
“I want to recall the State visit to Zimbabwe by Your Excellency President Museveni, during which you officially opened the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in 2019.
“May I renew the Government of Zimbabwe’s readiness to continue working closely with Uganda at the bilateral, regional, continental and international levels to advance our common aspirations as African countries,” said the President.
Efforts, he said, were underway for the convening of the “long overdue” Zimbabwe-Uganda Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation.
Plans for a seminar to be convened by the two countries this August are also afoot.
“I also wish to note that various cooperation agreements have been signed between our two countries and emphasise the need to fully implement these agreements and work closely together to develop and grow our economies with a view to improve the livelihoods of our respective peoples. Efforts are being made to convene the inaugural session of the long overdue Zimbabwe-Uganda Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation,” said President Mnangagwa.
He said it was important for the two countries to take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
President Mnangagwa asked for Kampala’s support in Zimbabwe’s bid for a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) non-permanent seat.
Russia, India, Cuba and countries in the SADC region have already thrown their weight behind Zimbabwe’s bid.
“I wish to request, my dear brother, Uganda’s support in Zimbabwe’s bid for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2027-2028 period,” President Mnangagwa said.
He expressed Zimbabwe’s appreciation for the support rendered by Uganda in calling for the unequivocal removal of sanctions imposed by the United States.
“I wish, my dear brother, to appreciate your relentless support for the removal of the illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the Western countries. We thank you for that stance”.
The President wished Uganda peaceful general elections in January next year.
“I am informed that you are likely to have an election in January 2026. I wish you, President Museveni, a peaceful election. And I further wish to thank President Museveni for spreading the quest for regional peace and stability in the Great Lakes region and for his role as the East African Community appointed mediator for Inter-Burundi dialogue as well as his lead role in the establishment of the East African Political Federation,” he said.
President Mnangagwa returned home yesterday.
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