Story by Bruce Chahwanda
ZIMBABWE will be ushered into a prosperous future through constant engagements at platforms such as the just-ended debt clearance platform.
This was said by Zimbabwe debt clearance facilitators after they paid a courtesy call on President Emmerson Mnangagwa at State House in Harare this Friday.
The high-powered delegation, led by former Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano and African Development Bank President, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina paid a courtesy call on the President to bid him farewell.
Speaking to journalists after a closed-door meeting, former President Chissano said the engagement will open a new era of cooperation for Zimbabwe.
‘‘We are here to take a bounce on how we saw the event yesterday. It came out that we are all satisfied. We are hoping for the success of the coming meeting. We agreed on proposed May dates. We took advantage of being with President Emmerson Mnangagwa to clarify certain issues as facilitators with partners. We facilitate our work with partners, and our role is to bridge Zimbabwe with other partners for a new era of cooperation.’’
The AfDB has noted strong commitment in the country’s leadership towards a prosperous Zimbabwe.
Dr Adesina said, ‘‘We are delighted to come here to brief the President, and we leave this State House very enthused by his energy, his engagement towards this dialogue, towards arrears clearance. We had an opportunity to brief President Mnangagwa on the outcome of the dialogue yesterday, and he was very, very pleased, and we are leaving positively.
“The commitment is there and we need to keep working. At the end of the day, it’s a better and prosperous Zimbabwe we are looking for. Everyone is committed that we succeed. We will be back, but the President’s leadership is very crucial.’’
Zimbabwe has shown its commitment to clearing existing debts, which continue to weigh down on the country’s growth prospects.
The debt clearance strategy is expected to give impetus to the second republic’s engagement and re-engagement policy.
