Cuba, Saharawi Democratic Republic Holds Meeting With Zimbabwe Government

Republic of Zimbabwe Vice-President Joice Mujuru welcomes Mohamed Cheij Saleh, Ambassador to Zimbabwe from the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR)., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Cuba, Saharawi envoys meet Khaya Moyo

February 12, 2014
Felex Share Herald Reporter

Cuban ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Elio Savon Oliva and his Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic counterpart Mr Mohamed Cheij Saleh yesterday met Senior Minister of State in the President’s Office Cde Simon Khaya Moyo and expressed their Governments’ commitment to working with Zimbabwe.

First to meet Cde Khaya Moyo was Ambassador Oliva, who said his country wanted cooperation in the areas of health and education increased.

“We talked about the possibility of increasing cooperation in the fields of health, primary and secondary education as well as tertiary education,” he said. “There is also potential in tourism and this is an area we want to explore.”

Ambassador Oliva said the health programme going on between the two countries should be strengthened.

“It is already running and we have got a lot of doctors that are operating in Zimbabwe and we are saying they should be increased according to the agreement we signed,” he said.

Ambassador Saleh said he congratulated Cde Khaya Moyo on his ministerial appointment and Zanu-PF for resoundingly winning the harmonised elections last year.

He said he briefed Cde Khaya Moyo on the continued occupation of his country by Morocco and that the Polisario Front was grateful for the support it was getting from Zanu-PF.

Saharawi is the only country in Africa that is still a colony, ironically under the rule of another African country.

“Morocco has continued with its brutal and repressive practices on Saharawi civilians who are simply seeking the application of a United Nations resolution,” he said.

“It is shameful that after 20 years of United Nations peace keeping mission on the ground, no progress has been made to have the referendum for self determination.”

Ambassador Saleh said Morocco, with the assistance of some Western countries, was plundering Saharawi’s natural resources.

“We have been fighting for the last four decades, but up to now the situation has not ended because of Morocco,” said Ambassador Saleh.

Saharawi is an AU member and its sovereign status is recognised by more than 80 countries worldwide.

Morocco pulled out of the AU, then the Organisation of African Unity, in the early 1980s after the continental bloc recognised Saharawi’s independence and membership.