Story by Bruce Chahwanda, Political Editor
ZIMBABWE and Cuba are set to deepen relations, with tangible cooperation already visible in the health and education sectors.
The deepening of bilateral ties between Harare and Havana took centre stage when Zimbabwe’s Ambassador designate to Cuba met President Emmerson Mnangagwa at State House this Monday.
Emerging from the closed door meeting, Ambassador Chikawa said Zimbabwe enjoys cordial relations with Cuba and his mission is to deepen cooperation.
“We already cooperate with Cubans in the areas of education and health. There are projects that are already running and I want to give tribute to my predecessor and those who were there before him. On health you will be seeing real, tangible projects that are already underway. I am only going to give my support wherever needed. On education, Bindura University is actually an offshoot of our programme where students went to Cuba for education soon after our independence,” he said.
Ambassador Chikawa noted that harnessing the engagement and re-engagement policy will be key as he heads to Havana.
“What I can assure the Zimbabwean population is that under the leadership of His Excellency President Dr E.D Mnangagwa, reaffirmation, engagement and re-engagement with time is what we will scale to the greatest possible heights. In order to do that we want to do it with friends leaving no one behind, but we also want to do it with those who might not have understood you yesterday as long as you state your case and stand by it,” he added.
Relations between Cuba and Zimbabwe date back to the days of the country’s liberation struggle.
