Story by Josephine Mugiyo, Diplomatic Correspondent
President Emmerson Mnangagwa says the historic visit by Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko is a testimony to the excellent relations between Minsk and Harare.
He was speaking at the State banquet hosted for President Lukashenko at State House this Tuesday evening.
The dinner came after several agreements to increase economic cooperation were signed during the day.
Glasses were raised as the heads of state toasted peace, prosperity and good health for the people of the two countries.
President Mnangagwa summed up the visit as a culmination of the unprecedented multi-faceted growth in relations between the two countries over the past few years.
“This historic visit will forever be etched as a testimony of the excellent relations that exist between our two countries. It is a culmination of the unprecedented multi-faceted growth in our relations over the past few years.
“I recall with fond memories, my visit to your great country in 2015, when I was Vice President and again in January 2019. On both occasions, we held very productive engagements which set the time for deepened multi-sectoral cooperation.’’
Zimbabwe and Belarus have resolved to open diplomatic missions in Minsk and Harare and President Mnangagwa expressed confidence that the diplomatic missions will facilitate closer cooperation.
President Mnangagwa added, “I am confident therefore that these diplomatic missions will facilitate closer people-to-people cooperation and broaden the scope of our bilateral, economic, scientific as well as technical cooperation and partnerships.”
President Lukashenko, who spoke through an interpreter, also spoke highly of the relations the two countries have established.
“Our relationship should be an example to other countries on how good relations are started. I mentioned that our relations started more than 10 years ago.”
This Wednesday President Lukashenko will travel to Victoria Falls. President Mnangagwa is expected to see him off from the resort city as he heads back to Belarus.
