Story by ZBC Reporter
THE Speaker of Parliament, Advocate Jacob Mudenda, has embarked on official engagements in Japan aimed at strengthening bilateral parliamentary and economic relations between the two nations.
Speaking during a high-level meeting with the Japan-African Union Parliamentary Friendship Association in Tokyo, Speaker Mudenda highlighted that multilateralism is pivotal in enhancing socio-economic relations between African countries and Japan.
He also accentuated mineral exploration as a potential area of economic cooperation.
With over 40 different types of known minerals, Speaker Mudenda encouraged Japan to partner with Zimbabwe in mineral exploration, mining, and beneficiation, stressing that Zimbabwe can benefit immensely from Japanese expertise and technological advancements in the field.
Speaker Mudenda noted that Zimbabwe is the largest lithium producer in the world, emphasising that beneficiation through the production of batteries would be of critical economic benefit to Zimbabwe.
Speaker Mudenda underpinned the need to strengthen people to people relations through mapping out robust measures to increase the number of Japanese tourists to Zimbabwe, which had declined from 30 000 per annum pre-COVID era to 10 000 per annum post COVID era.
He also applauded ongoing trade in sesame seed exports and Japan’s support through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which has been instrumental in providing infrastructure and technical support to Zimbabwean farmers.
The Chairperson of the Japan-African Union Parliamentary Friendship Association, Honnourable Yamagiwa Daishiro, underscored the significance of Speaker Mudenda’s visit, noting that it is taking place on the backdrop of the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) and Expo 2025 Osaka platforms aimed at enhancing mutually beneficial relations between Japan and African Parliaments.
In line with His Excellency President Mnangagwa’s mantra that “Zimbabwe is Open for Business,” Speaker Mudenda stated that the Parliament of Zimbabwe stands ready to review and reform legislation to remove any bottlenecks that may deter foreign investment.
