The Sunday Mail
Lincoln Towindo and Felex Share
Japan is prepared to provide funding and technical assistance to Zimbabwe’s economic development and the onus is on Government to immediately identify bankable projects that require partnerships with the East Asian economic giant, President Mugabe has said.
Speaking at the Harare International Airport after arriving from an official visit to Japan, the President said Zimbabwe and Japan had clinched key agreements that are linked to development cooperation between the two nations, which will be consummated without delay.
Part of the crowd that gathered at the Harare International Airport to welcome President Mugabe from Japan yesterday
Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, who accompanied the President on the visit, is expected to immediately convene briefings with ministers whose portfolios are set to benefit from the deals.
The deals, said the President, will cut across agriculture, mining, road infrastructure and information communication technologies – all key aspects in the country’s development programme – ZimAsset.
Japan is the leading producer of hi-tech technology in ICT, construction, agriculture and mining.
President Mugabe said his delegation had long and fruitful interactions with Japanese government authorities and leading business leaders.
“Zvizhinji (about the deals) zvichapatsanurwa naMinister of Foreign Affairs vaMumbengegwi pavachazenge vachidaidza mamwe ma ministers vachiti izvi ndezve ministry yakati chionayi rubatsiro rwuri kubva kuJapan kuti morushandira sei, rungakubatsirei sei.
“Ministry of Agriculture vakati vanokwanisa kubatsira neirrigation scheme chitevedzai hurukuro idzodzo.
“Ministry of Industry tinoda technology yavo, ICT zvimwe chetezvo.
“Tinenge tichidawo technology yeikoko.”
The President said Japanese support will focus on areas of development identified under Zim-Asset.
Value addition, he said was central to the interactions.
“Takaita hurukuro dzakadzama chaizvo izvo takaita musangano iye nemakurukota iniwo neangu.
“Tikakurukura kuti isu rubatsiro rwatinoda munzvimbo dzakasiyana-siyana runofanira kupindirana nehurongwa hwedu hwe ZimAsset.
“ZimAsset inobata ku agriculture, education, infrastructure yemigwagwa, ZimAsset inobatawo panyaya yekuti tive nokushanda mushando wemberi uye watinoti unoitwa kuma industry (value addition) wekuti zvinangwa zvedu zvatinenge taita zvekuwanda zvingave zvicherwa kana zvirimwa zvinobva ikoko tongorega kuramba tichizvitengesa zvakadaro tozvipa musandu beneficiation.”
Members of the Apostolic Sect who formed part of the crowd that gathered at the Harare International Airport to welcome President Mugabe from Japan yesterday
The Japanese Government also invited Zimbabwean students to apply for learning opportunities in Japan. The President said Zimbabwean students were offered opportunities to undertake ICT studies.
“Vakati iye zvino tingori ne mastudents maviri chete vanobva kuZimbabwe asi tine mavacancies akawanda. Saka tichakupayi ma vacancies akawanda kuti ma students akawanda awuye muzvikoro zvedu zvetechnology nezvebudiriro yepamusoro.”
Speaking to The Sunday Mail, Minister Mumbengegwi said Japanese investors showed keen interest in taking up opportunities in Zimbabwe.
He said: “Generally, they are prepared to assist us in virtually every sector of the economy. They were very open about it.
“From infrastructure, industry, agriculture, mining; they are prepared to come in and many of their companies are very keen to come and do business here.
“His Excellency the President clarified our indigenisation and economic empowerment policy and they were very happy with the clarification. We are now going to concretise the potential that has been identified and the interest that has been demonstrated.”
President Mugabe was welcomed yesterday at Harare International Airport by Deputy Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko, Cabinet Ministers and senior Zanu PF officials.
