Story by Josephine Mugiyo, Diplomatic Correspondent
LEADERS from Lesotho, Namibia and Malawi, who are in Zimbabwe for the 44th SADC Summit, met President Emmerson Mnangagwa this Friday, with their message anchored on the need for Africa to unite and promote Intra Africa Trade.
Several leaders from the SADC bloc are in the country ahead of the 44th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government to be held this Saturday.
Lesotho Prime Minister, His Excellency Sam Matekane was the first to meet with President Mnangagwa.
Emerging from the closed door meeting, Lesotho Prime Minister, His Excellency Sam Matekane highlighted that Lesotho and Zimbabwe are seeking to cooperate in various sectors with the key ones being agriculture and renewable energy.
He also pledged his country’s full support as Zimbabwe takes over the SADC chairmanship.
“First of all let me pay my respect to His Excellency. There are a few sectors which we have agreed to cooperate, agriculture, renewable energy, education and many more. Those are the critical ones we are going to start with now.
“We are also going to be working together as Africans, trying to see how we can make Africa a better place, and we are going to trade between ourselves as Africans before we can cross the borders, Zimbabwe has also been great, we will give them out full support as they chair,” he said.
Namibian President, Dr Nangolo Mbumba who arrived in the country this Thursday also met President Mnangagwa.
Dr Mbumba expressed his appreciation to Zimbabwe for standing with the people of Namibia during the COVID-19 crisis and also during the time they lost their President, Dr Hage Geingob.
“We discussed the issue of the relationship, the historic relationship between our two parties and our two countries. Zimbabwe has been very, very helpful and supportive and has always worked in solidarity with the Namibian people.
“We remember the time of the struggle but also the current history of our two countries. During the COVID period, Zimbabwe was able to use its own transport means, its own place, to deliver COVID medicine to Namibia from here and even from far away as far as China.
“When we lost our President, the late Dr Hage Geingob, Zimbabwe was there with us to mourn with us, to support us, to advise us, to guide us. They were there even the last time we laid him to rest. So I came here also to thank him for all those support,’’ said Dr Mbumba.
Dr Lazarus Chakwera, the Malawian President, who spoke to the media after his meeting with President Mnangagwa said as Zimbabwe takes its turn to lead the regional bloc, he expects that the region will rally behind its leaders to ensure regional integration and Intra-Africa trade.
“I was happy to meet with my brother and tell him I am in the country and he said you are home. I am happy to be back home, I congratulated him ahead of time because he is now going to chair SADC.
“My expectation is we will continue to rally behind our leadership as a region so that the regional integration agenda becomes a reality and you can do that with the innovation and Industrialisation emphasis and for us to be able to trade amongst ourselves.”
As the regional leaders meet this Saturday issues affecting the continent’s economy and wellbeing of the general population are expected to be up for discussion.
