Hosia Mviringi
President Mnangagwa arrived back home today from a successful tour of duty at COP26 Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland.
The President, upon landing at the iconic Robert Mugabe International Airport, confessed that he was pleasantly surprised that such a big crowd of compatriots had assembled a welcome party for him at the airport.
“I did not know that upon arrival I would be have such a heartfelt welcome back home. I left home a day after your Conference as I went to meet other 193 countries’ delegates from across the globe to discuss critical matters in respect of climate change,” said the President in remarks soon after his arrival.
Hundreds of supporters abandoned their economic activities just to say thank you to the President for silencing critics by ably representing the country at this crucial period in the life of the nation.
Opportunities abound for Zimbabwe to grab on the international scene which call for astute leadership.
President Mnangagwa revealed that the trip was not only important as it addressed issues to do with environmental damage as a result of global warming, but that the tour was particularly crucial as it afforded his delegation a rare networking platform for the country to engage directly with other nations at a higher level.
The President scored rare successes as he managed to personally engage with such world leaders as Mr Joseph Biden of the United States of America and the Queen of England as well as the British Prime Minister Mr Boris Johnson.
“On our first day we were invited by the Queen of England to a meeting with my colleague Cde Uhuru Kenyatta. As we interacted I was able to meet several delegates from around the globe,” said President Mnangagwa.
He said he met Prince Charles who professed his admiration for Zimbabwean soccer player Marvellous Nakamba.
President Mnangagwa revealed that he had very cordial exchanges with US President Joe Biden who immediately scheduled a formal appointment upon first request.
These high level interactions are very crucial for Zimbabwe at this juncture as the country slowly but surely navigates its way out of a prolonged isolation due to sanctions.
The country has been isolated from the rest of the world as it was slapped with an illegal regime of Western sanctions as those countries protested against Zimbabwe’s historic and reform program.
Zimbabwe has lost billions of dollars over the years as a result of sanctions, as the country lost a lucrative market share in the European and American export markets.
One particular casualty is the 30 000 tone annual beef export quota to the EU which used to be the mainstay of the agricultural sector through such companies as the Cold Storage Commission (CSC).
Re-engagement strides will be crucial in the country’s effort to regain this market for its products.
The Zimbabwean delegation’s war-cry for this particular trip, “Friend to all, enemy to none” signifies the country’s commitment to embracing all nations of the world as equal partners for business.
The theme dovetails with the “Open for business” mantra which emphasizes the country’s trajectory towards business engagement instead of political rhetoric.
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