Zimbabwe, Equatorial Guinea to Strengthen Ties

Presidents Mugabe and Nguema of Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea along with Mai Grace Mugabe during a state visit to Harare on January 9, 2012. The African states have pledged to strengthen ties., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Zimbabwe, Equatorial Guinea to strengthen ties: Nguema

Tuesday, 10 January 2012 00:00
Zimbabwe Herald

President Mugabe shared jokes with his Equatorial Guinea counterpart Teodoro Obiang Nguema while the First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe looked on at State House in Harare

Sydney Kawadza Assistant News Editor
Zimbabwe Herald

ZIMBABWE and Equatorial Guinea will continue cementing relations that were strengthened after Harare thwarted a coup bid in the West African country in 2004, President Teodoro Obiang Ngue-ma has said.

President Nguema arrived in Zimbabwe yesterday morning and was met at the Harare International Airport by Acting President John Nkomo, Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Nicholas Goche and several Government officials.

Addressing journalists after holding a closed-door meeting of up to six hours with President Mugabe at State House, President Nguema said the two countries will engage in various projects.

President Nguema is the AU chairman.

"It is my duty, as the AU chairman to meet continental leaders to discuss ways to carry Africa forward," he said.

President Nguema said the two countries needed to build strong links.

"Our countries enjoy strong links, which are deeply rooted much more after Zimbabwe assisted in foiling an attempted coup in our country in 2004 and that brought us closer," he said.

"We would like to engage in more projects that would reinforce our relations."

Zimbabwean security forces arrested British mercenary Simon Mann and 69 others at the Harare International Airport in 2004 when they landed to pick up weapons while on their way to overthrow President Nguema's government.

President Nguema scoffed at a question by journalists on whether or not Zimbabwe will be on the agenda of the forthcoming AU summit set for the end of this month.

"The agenda for the AU summit has been set as per the provisions of the Africa Union Commission and it would focus on how African leaders would strengthen co-operation between their countries," he said.

President Nguema last visited Zimbabwe in August 2007 to officially open the Harare Agricultural Show.

The two leaders agreed to strengthen contacts at all levels while opening diplomatic missions in their countries to enhance bilateral co-operation.

They encouraged companies in their respective countries to carry out mutually beneficial co-operation in such sectors as construction, trade, tourism and agriculture to promote steady growth of bilateral, economic and trade relations.