Mnangagwa returns from Doha Summit

President Mnangagwa returned home yesterday from a successful working visit to Doha, Qatar, where he joined other world leaders at the Second World Summit for Social Development, sharing Zimbabwe's progress in advancing social and economic transformation.

He was welcomed at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport by Vice President Kembo Mohadi, Cabinet ministers, service chiefs and senior Government officials.

Speaking on the President's arrival, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Professor Amon Murwira described the visit as a major diplomatic success that allowed Zimbabwe to "tell its story properly" on the global stage.

"His Excellency, the President, joined Heads of State and Government in Doha to talk about the state of social development in the world," said Prof Murwira.

"According to our Constitution, Zimbabwe is bound to belong to organisations that promote human development and peace, such as the United Nations."

Prof Murwira said President Mnangagwa highlighted how Zimbabwe had halved poverty levels under the Second Republic, with the focus now on improving the livelihoods of the remaining 30 percent of the population still living in poverty.

"His Excellency was able to tell the world that Zimbabwe has lifted about 30 percent of its people out of poverty within a few years and is now focusing on the rest," Prof Murwira said.

"He emphasised development at household level, championing food security, education support through the BEAM programme, and social protection initiatives."

The minister added that Zimbabwe's model of household-based social development had become a key pillar of the country's growth strategy, linking economic productivity with social well-being.

"Social development is about national cohesion, and His Excellency has made the household the centre of that vision," Prof Murwira said.

President Mnangagwa also used the summit to reaffirm Zimbabwe's diplomatic stance of being "a friend to all and enemy to none", while promoting economic cooperation and equality among sovereign nations.

"It was a very fruitful meeting," said Prof Murwira. "Zimbabwe, under His Excellency's leadership, continues to project itself as open for business and committed to mutual respect and peace among nations."

Meanwhile, the President is expected to participate virtually today in an Extraordinary SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government, which will deliberate on the situation in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the unexpected withdrawal of Madagascar from its rotational SADC chairmanship.

"As part of the SADC Troika, His Excellency will join other leaders to discuss these regional matters," Prof Murwira said.

"The outcomes of the summit will be communicated through the usual channels of the SADC Secretariat."

Preparatory meetings, including the Senior Officials Session and the Council of Ministers, were held yesterday ahead of the Heads of State and Government discussions.