The Sunday News
Harare Bureau
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 (right) 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.
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 — Zim Asset.
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 ne-irrigation 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. 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.
Speaking to our Harare Bureau, 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.”
During the visit, President Mugabe clinched key economic agreements including a massive road infrastructure development deal. He also met with prominent captains of industry including Shinichi Kitaoka, president of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). JICA is an organisation that co-ordinates official development assistance for the government of Japan.
President Mugabe was welcomed yesterday at Harare International Airport by Vice-Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko, Cabinet Ministers and senior Zanu-PF officials.
