News / National
Mugabe jets out to Algeria
24 Mar 2015 at 12:59hrs | Views
President Robert Mugabe has left Harare for Algeria on a four day state visit that is set to cement the existing bilateral ties between the two countries.
President Mugabe was seen off at the Harare International Airport by the two vice presidents Phelekezela Mphoko and Emmerson Mnangagwa, Defence Minister Dr Sidney Sekeramayi, Local Government Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo, Information Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo, Minister of State For Harare Miriam Chikukwa, other senior government officials and service chiefs.
Mugabe, who is accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, Industry and Commerce Minister Mike Bimha and senior government officials, was invited to the North African country by his Algerian counterpart President Abdelaziz Bouteflicka.
A special envoy From Algeria Mr Abdel Kades Messahel delivered the invitation at the beginning of February.
Mr Messahel said the state visit will enable the two countries to explore ways of expanding co-operation as well as review progress made under the Zimbabwe - Algeria Joint Commission that was signed by the two sides in 2009.
Algeria has been mediating in the conflicts in Mali and Libya and is also involved in trying to solve the Boko Haram crisis in north eastern Nigeria.
Zimbabwe already has a track record as a peacemaker in solving some trouble spots in Angola, DRC and Lesotho and President Mugabe's experience as a peace broker will come in handy when he meets his Algerian counterpart.
The North African country has been offering scholarships to Zimbabwean students studying in various fields, including medicine and engineering since 2005 and the number of students studying in Algeria has risen to over 500 since the inception of the programme.
Relations between Zimbabwe and the Magreb nation date back to the days of the liberation struggle when Algeria offered training to Zimbabwe's liberation fighters.
President Mugabe was seen off at the Harare International Airport by the two vice presidents Phelekezela Mphoko and Emmerson Mnangagwa, Defence Minister Dr Sidney Sekeramayi, Local Government Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo, Information Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo, Minister of State For Harare Miriam Chikukwa, other senior government officials and service chiefs.
Mugabe, who is accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, Industry and Commerce Minister Mike Bimha and senior government officials, was invited to the North African country by his Algerian counterpart President Abdelaziz Bouteflicka.
A special envoy From Algeria Mr Abdel Kades Messahel delivered the invitation at the beginning of February.
Mr Messahel said the state visit will enable the two countries to explore ways of expanding co-operation as well as review progress made under the Zimbabwe - Algeria Joint Commission that was signed by the two sides in 2009.
Algeria has been mediating in the conflicts in Mali and Libya and is also involved in trying to solve the Boko Haram crisis in north eastern Nigeria.
Zimbabwe already has a track record as a peacemaker in solving some trouble spots in Angola, DRC and Lesotho and President Mugabe's experience as a peace broker will come in handy when he meets his Algerian counterpart.
The North African country has been offering scholarships to Zimbabwean students studying in various fields, including medicine and engineering since 2005 and the number of students studying in Algeria has risen to over 500 since the inception of the programme.
Relations between Zimbabwe and the Magreb nation date back to the days of the liberation struggle when Algeria offered training to Zimbabwe's liberation fighters.
Source - zbc
