Zim to lift visa requirements for Chinese, Russian nationals

GOVERNMENT will soon lift visa requirements for Russian and Chinese nationals in order to encourage economic co-operation, Acting President Emmerson Mnangagwa has revealed.

Addressing party supporters in Mvuma, where he bade farewell to the electorate in his former Chirumhanzu-Zibagwe constituency, Mnangagwa said Government remained committed to improving the economic situation in the country by attracting more tourists and investors from Russia and some friendly Asian countries.

He said Government was in the middle of negotiations with representatives from most Asian countries so that it could lift visa requirements for their citizens as a way of creating a conducive environment for tourism and attract other visitors prospecting for business opportunities in the country.

"The situation has improved over the years in terms of tourism with a number of visitors from Europe and other countries.  We are hopeful that the situation will continue to improve and we continue to have more tourists visiting the country.

"We are in the process of improving and strengthening our relationship with our all-weather friend China and other countries from Asia. The arrangement was that when Chinese citizens want to visit Zimbabwe they have to first secure visas.

"We have lost potential business because they would eventually opt to go to other countries instead of us. So we are in the middle of negotiations with those countries so that we have more people from our perennial friends coming to the country," Mnangagwa said.

"What we considered was that China alone has more than 150 million tourists coming to Africa annually and of that if we could have at least five million visiting the country tatonaka zvekunaka zviya (things will be better).

"So that work will be done by our secretary for external relations who is also the Minister of Foreign Affairs. We want visa requirements for countries like China, Russia, Malaysia and Indonesia among others to be lifted so that we receive more people coming to the country from these Asian countries."

Mnangagwa said the country would not mortgage its resources by impulsively entering into agreements with investors who want to siphon the country's mineral resources.

"Upfumi kana tichirinahwo muivhu tinohusiya hurimo kana tisina watawirirana naye kuti tibatsire kuzvitora because these resources will not run away. We can only allow those who are willing to assist us in extracting our resources.

"We are really committed to reviving the industry. Illegal sanctions imposed on us by the European Union have been lifted though selectively. President Mugabe and First Lady Dr Amai Mugabe are still under sanctions. As far as we are concerned, if they do not remove them in total, they haven't done anything," he said.

Mnangagwa guaranteed the country of political stability under Zanu-PF leadership.

His comments come in the wake of internal squabbles that have seen former Vice President Joice Mujuru and her cabal being either expelled from Zanu-PF or relieved of their duties in Government.

"We are now focusing on developing our country. When it comes to political stability, I want to guarantee you that there will be political stability in the country under Zanu-PF leadership. We need political stability in the country and Zanu-PF guarantees you of political stability. Our country is stable and shall always be stable," he said.

Mnangagwa said government would soon descend on multiple farm owners and downsize some of the farms so that the land would be redistributed to other beneficiaries.

"We have the issue of multiple farm ownership. We want to do away with that as soon as possible because we want more people to benefit from the land reform programme. We are also going to downsize some of the farms that are too big," he said.