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President Mugabe

Cletus Mushanawani recently in New Delhi, India
President Robert Mugabe, who is also the African Union chairman, returned home on Saturday night from the third India-Africa Forum Summit which ended in New Delhi last Thursday.

President Mugabe, who arrived home accompanied by the First Lady Cde Grace Mugabe whom he picked up during a brief stop-over in Dubai, was welcomed by his two Vice-Presidents Cdes Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko, government ministers and other officials.

Service chiefs were also present to welcome President Mugabe, who was also the co-chairman of the India-Africa Forum Summit with host Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The India-Africa Forum Summit was the biggest in history as 54 African nations were represented.

The host nation availed a $10 billion line of credit for Africa and Zimbabwe is poised to benefit immensely from the facility in energy, agriculture, infrastructure development and technology areas in line with the country’s economic blueprint, Zim-Asset.

While in India, President Mugabe led African leaders for bilateral talks with Prime Minister Modi, which Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi described as fruitful.

President Mugabe’s hectic schedule saw him meeting the Indian business community on Tuesday where at least 21 companies showed great interest in investing in the country.

On Thursday, President Mugabe and Prime Minister Modi addressed the India-Africa Forum Summit where they clearly articulated Africa and India’s aspirations in global politics as well as enhancing their economic co-operation.

Both leaders said it was important for Africa and India to speak with one voice in their push for permanent seats in the United Nations Security Council as they have the third of the world population.

They also called for equal representation of member states as some members of the Security Council view themselves as giants, while others are seen as dwarfs.

President Mugabe also met Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Nguema Mbasogo and South Sudan President Salva Kiir, who both made courtesy calls at his hotel on Friday.

Both leaders described their closed door meetings with President Mugabe as fruitful, with President Nguema Mbasogo describing President Mugabe as the dean of African presidents who deserved respect.