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Harare Bureau
INDIA and Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II yesterday congratulated Zimbabwe on its attaining 36 years of independence. Zimbabwe marked 36 years of freedom on Monday.

In his congratulatory message, Indian President Pranab Mukherjee said his country looked forward to strengthened relations with Zimbabwe.

“On behalf of the government, the people of India and on my own behalf, it gives me great pleasure to extend warm greetings to the government and the people of the Republic of Zimbabwe on the occasion of your Independence Day,” said President Mukherjee.

He was confident relations between the two countries would continue to grow.

“India and Zimbabwe enjoy warm and cordial relations. I am confident that the mutually beneficial cooperation between our two nations will continue to strengthen and expand in the years to come.”

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II also congratulated the country.

“It gives me great pleasure to send the people of Zimbabwe my congratulations on the celebration of your National Day, together with my best wishes for the coming year,” said Queen Elizabeth II.

Russia and the United States also wished Zimbabwe well in their congratulatory messages on Monday with President Vladimir Putin describing the relations between Harare and Moscow as historic.

“When the Zimbabwean people fought against British imperialism and apartheid in South Africa, they received support from the Soviet Union and it made a big contribution to helping Zimbabwe achieve its liberation,” said President Putin.

He said he was confident relations between Zimbabwe and Russia would continue to grow.

US President Barack Obama also wished Zimbabwe well saying his country would “continue to support Zimbabwean efforts to strengthen institutions, expand economic opportunities, and promote a democratic society . . .”