Story by Josephine Mugiyo in St Petersburg, Russia
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa says Zimbabwe has the capacity to produce enough food on its vast tracts of fertile land to ensure national food security.
He was responding to questions from the Russian media in St Petersburg this Saturday, after attending the main plenary session of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum held this Friday.
The questions ranged from food security, illegal economic sanctions imposed by the West, the new currency and the country’s foreign policy.
On the issue of food security, the Head of State said focus is on augmenting gains attained so far in boosting production.
“The prime objective of any government is to attain food security, it is our primary objective as a country that we achieve permanent food security. As for the last 4 to 5 years Zimbabwe has attained food security. We have developed a situation where we have irrigation and are using the water bodies we have as we look to attain food security,” he said.
The issue of sanctions and how Zimbabwe has handled the illegal embargo was brought up by the Russian media and the President made known his firm belief that besides being illegal, the sanctions are also unjustified.
He added, “In the first place, the sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe are illegal, they are not justified. Our people have a democratic right to choose. Sanctions on us are illegal because of people who have imposed them on us. We have no quarrel with anybody.”
The new ZiG currency also drew the interest of the journalists.
“ZiG, the focus is on our own currency, we have decided that our currency should be gold-based,” said the President.
Attention was also drawn towards conflict areas across the world with President Mnangagwa clearly enunciating Zimbabwe’s foreign policy.
“Zimbabwe’s policy is for dialogue, we promote dialogue, wherever there is conflict in any part of the world our stance is we should promote dialogue, with dialogue you talk and find each other,” noted the President.
The Second Republic continues on its stance of engagement and re-engagement premised on the mantra of a friend to all and enemy to none.
