By George Swarei
The Honourable Fredrick Shava, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, extended a warm welcome to the Brazilian delegation led by His Excellency Mr. Carlos Duarte, during the recent bilateral political consultations held in Zimbabwe.
In response, Mr. Duarte conveyed Brazil’s appreciation for Zimbabwe’s hospitality and reiterated Brazil’s commitment to strengthening diplomatic ties between the two nations. He emphasized Brazil’s admiration for Zimbabwe’s resilience in the face of external challenges and expressed optimism about the prospects for enhanced cooperation.
Highlighting the longstanding diplomatic ties dating back to 1980, Minister Shava expressed gratitude for Brazil’s consistent support, particularly amid external challenges such as sanctions. The discussions, deemed crucial for aligning mutual interests and fostering cooperation, emphasized the significant potential for collaboration across various sectors between the two nations.
Acknowledging Brazil’s More Food International Zimbabwe Programme, Minister Shava commended the initiative for its instrumental role in enhancing food security and supporting small-scale farmers in Zimbabwe. However, he noted challenges regarding loan repayments due to external factors, including sanctions, and emphasized ongoing efforts to explore alternative banking channels to address the issue.
Mr. Duarte expressed Brazil’s willingness to work closely with Zimbabwe to overcome challenges and further strengthen bilateral relations. He emphasized the importance of cooperation in key areas such as agriculture and trade, highlighting the mutual benefits that can be derived from increased collaboration.
The Minister urged Brazil’s support for Zimbabwe’s application for membership in the New Development Bank, highlighting its potential to provide financial alternatives and facilitate debt clearance. Expressing gratitude for Brazil’s technical assistance in agriculture, particularly in cotton production and cattle farming, Minister Shava underscored the importance of enhancing trade and investment ties between the two countries.
As discussions concluded, both sides expressed optimism regarding the future trajectory of bilateral relations and committed to further strengthening cooperation in various fields.
The successful conclusion of the political consultations marks a significant step forward in the Zimbabwe-Brazil partnership, with both nations poised to explore new avenues of collaboration for mutual benefit.