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Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa

Fidelis Munyoro, Harare Bureau
Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday met Cuban and Japanese ambassadors at his Munhumutapa offices and discussed a wide range of issues including bilateral relations.

Outgoing Cuban Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Elio Savan Oliva was the first to meet VP Mnangagwa.

He told reporters after the meeting that although he had come to bid farewell to the VP, the two discussed several issues to do with two countries’ relations. “I came here to bid farewell as I am coming to the end of my duty in Zimbabwe and convey my feelings about the country,” said Ambassador Oliva.

“We also discussed our countries’ friendship that is continuing to grow from strength to strength in all areas of co-operation.”

Ambassador Oliva said Zimbabwe is a great country with great potential for development despite it facing a myriad of challenges. This, he said, was evidenced by the achievements that have been registered in face of the economic hardships obtaining in the country.

“Zimbabwe is great. Yes, there are challenges, but it is making achievements,” he said.

“The Government’s agriculture programme is magnificent and the will of the people of Zimbabwe to move forward is great.”

Ambassador Oliva said during his tenure he ensured that the relations between the two countries improved. He cited the co-operation in education and health sector as fantastic.

He said during his term delegations from both countries exchanged visits and his country was in the process of implementing a sport agreement signed two years ago.

Japanese Ambassador Mr Toshiyuki Iwado said he assured the VP Mnangagwa that since his arrival in the country two months ago he had hit the ground running following up on the mega deals signed between President Mugabe and Japanese Prime Minister Mr Shinzo Abe last year.President Mugabe went to Japan in March last year and sealed vital economic agreements with Mr Abe.

“Like I said before my major task is following up on the joint statement signed by my Prime Minister and President Mugabe when he visited Japan last year,” said Ambassador Iwado.

“We discussed how we can promote bilateral co-operations between this country and Japan. We also touched on government assistance on health, agriculture, and disaster assistance among others.”

Ambassador Iwado said work on the Nyakomba Irrigation Scheme in Nyanga was progressing well. He said he expected that his government bitumen project is almost complete and they are expecting to hand it over to the Government by month-end.

He said the road rehabilitation programme in the north-south corridor was another major project he was keen to complete on time.