Mugabe back from Ethiopia

President Robert Mugabe is back home from the 18th COMESA Summit held yesterday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Mugabe was met at the Harare International Airport by the two vice presidents, Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko, Defence Minister Sydney Sekeramayi, Zanu-PF National Spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo, Harare Province Minister of State Mirriam Chikukwa, senior government officials and service chiefs.

The Minister of Industry and Commerce, Mike Bimha who also attended the COMESA said it was a success and they are now preparing for the Tripartite Summit which includes the SADC, COMESA and East African Community to be held in Shalksjeik, Egypt in June this year.

Bimha said negotiations have been taken place to harmonise the trade parity in the three regional economic groups so that a preferential trade area is built in Africa.

He said delegates to the summit were in agreement with ZIMASSET, adding that almost all speakers spoke of the need to industrialise and value-add primary products from the continent.

On resource mobilisation, Bimha said the continent has enough resources and needs more foreign direct investment.

He added that one area they have to perfect is tapping resources from the diaspora group as seen in Ethiopia, where major infrastructure development is mainly driven by diaspora remittances.