Mabel Memory Chinomona
MINSK, 19 February (BelTA) – President of the Senate of Zimbabwe Mabel Memory Chinomona confirmed interest in implementing a trilateral project with Belarus and Mozambique as she talked to journalists following her meeting with Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko in Minsk on 19 February, BelTA has learned.
According to the president of the Senate of Zimbabwe, the main focus of the talks with the Belarusian head of state was that through its cooperation with Zimbabwe, Belarus is interested in working with all countries of the African continent. In particular, discussions centered on a trilateral project with Mozambique to build a seaport that would become a foothold on the southeastern coast for the further promotion of Belarusian goods to Africa.
In this context, the possibility of restoring railway communication between Zimbabwe and Mozambique was discussed. As Mabel Memory Chinomona emphasized, the Belarusian president expressed great interest in implementing this project in the shortest possible time.
“We are confident that this will indeed happen, because our President Emmerson Mnangagwa is also interested in this. He also places great importance on development that benefits the whole African continent,” the Zimbabwean Senate president said. She noted the high authority of the Zimbabwean leader in a number of African countries, which facilitates the swift implementation of joint projects.
The Zimbabwean Senate president expressed confidence that this would also be the case with the trilateral project involving Belarus, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique.
Mabel Memory Chinomona also noted that Zimbabwe, like many African countries, had fallen behind other countries in development for many years, yet thanks in part to friendly countries like Belarus, they have made significant progress. She thanked Belarus for its assistance in mechanizing Zimbabwe’s agriculture, which enabled the country to harvest a record wheat crop and thereby ensure its food security. Furthermore, the use of agricultural machinery significantly eases farmers’ work in Zimbabwe, a considerable portion of whom are women. Mabel Memory Chinomona, who is also Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to the Women Political Leaders and previously chaired the African Parliamentary Union’s Women’s Committee, conveyed special thanks to the Belarusian side for this.
As reported by BelTA, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has proposed that Zimbabwe implement a trilateral project with Belarus and Mozambique to construct a seaport.
“Contemplating the prospects of Belarus’ work in Africa, I returned to an old idea we discussed with your president. We really need a foothold on the coast of the African continent – in the southeast. This means that we must work together with Zimbabwe on building a port in your neighboring state, Mozambique. If we could realize this idea together with Mozambique and Zimbabwe, and in this case we can do it and restore the railway connection through your neighbor (the distance is short) to Zimbabwe, then your country would become a good hub for goods not only from Belarus, but also for goods from other states. I think, primarily Russia,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stated during his meeting with the president of the Senate of Zimbabwe.
“We need to work on this idea. Please remind President Mnangagwa about our conversation on this point. It is very important for me to hear what you and your colleagues think about this. This is a huge opportunity,” the president added.
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