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Takunda Maodza in Guinea Conakry
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has called for African unity saying it is only through working together that the continent can modernise and develop.

He made the remarks here yesterday during a tour of the Souapiti Hydro-power Project that is still under construction.

The massive project when finished will not only benefit Guinea Conakry but also its neighbours.

President Mnangagwa is in Guinea on a state visit at the invitation of President Alpha Conde.

The visit ends with a banquet tonight.

In an interview soon after the tour, President Mnangagwa said: “My brother President Conde had briefed me his vision not only for Guinea but for the continent. The issue is that Africa must modernise. Africa must industrialise. One of the enablers to do so is the capacity to generate energy and this is one of the projects to realise that vision initially for Guinea, but as we go on, interconnection to the region and the rest of the continent.”

President Mnangagwa said such a development model leaves noone behind.

“Those with capacity and those without capacity to generate energy benefit from the global and continental interconnectedness and this is one of the projects (power project) directed to achieve that vision,” he said.

President Mnangagwa called on Africa to follow in the footsteps of its forebears.

“We are benefiting from the vision of our forefathers who had foresight that Africa must be united. The only way for Africa to be meaningful, to play its role internationally is for us to be united. We are following the footsteps of our forefathers and Guinea is one of the early African countries that espoused Pan Africanism and l am happy that my brother is walking in the same revolutionary pursuit to unite Africa,” he said.

Guinea Conakry became the first French colony to gain independence on September 28, 1958.

President Mnangagwa is using his visit here to appeal for African support in Zimbabwe’s efforts to re-engage the West and end illegal economic sanctions on the country.

He seeks Guinea Conakry’s French connection to appeal to the European Union to consider lifting the economic embargo which is frustrating efforts by Government to turnaround the economy.