France re-engages Mugabe's Zimbabwe

A HIGH-POWERED delegation from the French Ministry of Foreign affairs will on June 5 visit Harare to kick-start political dialogue to re-engage the government formally on bilateral issues after over a decade of strained diplomatic relations, the French ambassador has said.

French Ambassador to Zimbabwe Laurent Delahouse confirmed on Tuesday that the "political visit", which is the first after more than 10 years, was geared towards discussing all pending issues to normalise bilateral relations between the two countries.

Delahouse said France would not hesitate to ask difficult questions related to human rights, especially after the abduction of journalist-cum-civic activist Itai Dzamara who was kidnapped in March this year and is yet to be found.

According to Delahouse, after the French officials' visit the next step would be a visit by members of the Zimbabwe government to Paris for further engagement.