Mugabe flies out again

PRESIDENT Mugabe is set to leave for Algeria today on a four-day State visit aimed at enhancing economic and political co-operation between Zimbabwe and the North African country.

The President and his delegation are visting Algeria at the invitation of Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

Foreign Affairs permanent secretary Ambassador Joey Bimha yesterday confirmed the State visit, saying Zimbabwe and Algeria had a long history of co-operation in various fields including economic, political and education sectors.

"This State visit is in view of the strong political relations that we have with Algeria," he said. "We have also been working together in education where we have students from here studying in Algeria.

"The economic co-operation needs to be enhanced by identifying other areas of working together and it is hoped that the State visit will give us an opportunity to enhance the economic co-operation."

Contrary to mischievous opinions held by some private newspapers in Zimbabwe, a State visit is only undertaken at the invitation of the host country which also bankrolls it.

State visits are considered to be the highest expression of friendly bilateral relations between two sovereign states and discussions centre on networking and developing economic, cultural and social links.

At the end of a State visit, the foreign Head of State traditionally issues a formal invitation for a reciprocal State visit by the host.

For this State visit to materialise, President Bouteflika sent his special envoy, Mr Abdelkader Messahel, at the end of February with an invitation to President Mugabe.