Zambia ready to support Zim
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa’s administration is committed to improving the livelihoods of its people and Zambia will give Zimbabwe maximum support, an envoy has said.
Zambian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Emmanuel Chenda made the remarks last Thursday after paying a courtesy call on Vice President Constantino Chiwenga at his Munhumutapa Offices.
“The Government wants to ensure the people’s lives are enhanced and we commend them for that,” he said.
“Indeed Zimbabwe is open for business and we are strengthening our relations not only at government to government, but at people to people level also.”
Ambassador Chenda said no country was more connected to Zambia than Zimbabwe.
“We are connected by all major means of transport that is rail, air and road at the shortest possible time,” he said.
“My coming here is meant to strengthen our bilateral relationships. Economic development cannot be sustained unless there are strong bilateral relations. We have discussed economic, social, cultural and infrastructure development issues.”
He said one of the projects they had discussed was the Batoka power project.
“Both countries are in dire need of energy and industrialisation. Energy is key to that and it is our sincere hope that within the shortest possible time this project will take off.”
He added: “We also discussed the Lion’s Den-Kafue railway line which will be constructed and shorten the route to our alternative ports. All these are issues which will ensure the two countries develop economically and offer better opportunities and lives to our people.”
VP Chiwenga also met Turkey Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Hakan Kivanc who said his mission was to increase the trade relations between Harare and Ankara.
He said he wanted Turkish Airlines to come to Zimbabwe.
“I have expressed to the Vice President our position, what we can do and what we have to do in the future to increase our relations which have always been good,” Mr Kivanc said.
“We have to further our economic and cultural relations. Of course you do not have an ambassador in Ankara so I am doing both missions. I am very happy to be here in Zimbabwe with its wonderful people.”