Zim, Cuba taking relations to a higher level
ZIMBABWE is committed to taking its relations with Cuba to the next level based on equality, mutual respect and a shared desire to build beneficial cooperation, Vice President Kembo Mohadi has said.
Speaking at a dinner he hosted for Cuban Vice President Salvador Valdes Mesa, who is in the country on an official three-day visit last night, VP Mohadi said his counterpart’s visit was an “eloquent testament” of the cordial relations that exist between Harare and Havana.
Zimbabwe and Cuba enjoy cordial relations that date back to Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle.
Going forward, VP Mohadi said the two countries should expand their relations both qualitatively and quantitatively.
“Your visit to this country is an eloquent testament to the close relations that exist between our two countries. These relations were forged and cemented in the 60s and 70s when we were comrades in arms during our liberation struggle. At that time, Cuba took up Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle and made it hers by training our competence and providing arms and other materials.
“These ties have been tried and tested over the last 43 years of our independence. I trust that the torch of the revolution led by the founding fathers of both our countries will burn into the future.
“Please be rest assured that we are determined to take this relationship to a new and higher level which is based on equality, mutual respect sovereignty and a shared desire to build mutually beneficial cooperation and to fight for a more just, fairer and more equitable global political and economic order,” he said.
VP Mohadi, who will hold a meeting with his Cuban counterpart today, said the deliberations would centre on how cooperation and exchanges can be enhanced between the two countries, as well as on regional and international issues.
“It is only through high-level feasts such as this one that we can nurture and explore ways of expanding, both qualitatively and quantitatively, all aspects of the relations between our two countries.
“In this vein, your visit provides us with an opportunity to exchange ideas on how to further strengthen these relations and to discuss regional and international issues which are increasingly becoming more complicated.
“It is my fervent hope that in our meeting tomorrow we will look into ways in which we can redouble efforts to expand the areas of our cooperation and find common ground on a wide range of regional and international issues,” he said.
Zimbabwe and Cuba have been cooperating in various fields particularly in the education and health sectors for decades.
This cooperation has seen over 3 000 teachers being trained by Cuba since the mid-1980s.
In the health sector, Cuban brigades have been helping to bridge the gap, as well as impart their expert knowledge.
VP Mohadi said all this assistance was appreciated by the Second Republic.
“I am heartened that cooperation between our two countries has been ongoing for decades, especially in the education and health sectors. Cuba has been contributing immensely towards the development of Zimbabwe, the education sector, through the training of human resources and skills development. There is no doubt that Cuba’s training programmes have had a significant positive impact on our education system as the results speak for themselves.” ◆ Full story on www.herald.co.zw