Mugabe's foreign trips fruitful?

President Mugabe's foreign trips have been fruitful as evidenced by investments that follow after the trips, contrary to the aspersions of critics who claim that the trips are a waste of State resources, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Mashonaland West, Webster Shamu said yesterday. Addressing senior Government officials, traditional leaders and heads of departments in Makonde district, Shamu said State visits by the Head of State and Government and First Lady Dr Amai Grace Mugabe had benefited the country immensely through various projects.

Shamu was speaking while receiving nine boreholes and a piped water scheme from the Japanese government donated to Makonde District. On Monday, the Japanese government boosted the rehabilitation of the Chirundu-Harare Highway by donating 4 744 metric tonnes of bitumen, 1 164 metric tonnes of cutback bitumen and 1 446 metric tonnes of cationic emulsion, with a total value of $5 503 894. The donation was made in Chinhoyi at a function attended by Japanese Ambassador Mr Toshiyuki Iwado, Shamu and Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Dr Joram Gumbo.The donations are part of deals signed by President Mugabe and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe when the President had a State visit to Tokyo in March last year.

"We are gathered here today because of the successful trips by President Mugabe," said Shamu. "In March last year, President Mugabe and Dr Amai Grace Mugabe visited Japan at the invitation of their Prime Minister Abe and signed a joint statement which is bearing all these fruits we are witnessing today. Vaye vane mashoko enhema ekungoshoropodza ekuti VaMugabe vanongofamba vachiparadza dzimari, mashoko ekunyepa dai vasingafambe vachiita zvavanoita mari yezvinhu zvatakawana nezuro kuti tigadzire zvinhu zvedu taizviwanepi?

"On Monday, Chirundu-Harare Highway construction was boosted through a Japanese donation of 4 744 metric tonnes of bitumen, 1 164 metric tonnes of cutback bitumen and 1 446 metric tonnes of cationic emulsion with a total value of $ 5 503 894.

"Today (yesterday) we have received again nine boreholes and piped water scheme from the Japanese government to Makonde District community courtesy of President Mugabe's foreign trips." Shamu lauded President Mugabe and the First Lady for the good relations that they have managed to maintain with other countries over the years through the successful foreign trips. He said President Mugabe had always prioritised the welfare of the citizens by attending special meetings where developmental issues, including Sustainable Development Goals, were being tabled.