Mnangagwa, Obiang pledge stronger Zimbabwe-Equatorial Guinea ties

President Emmerson Mnangagwa and First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa last night hosted a State Banquet at State House in Harare in honour of visiting Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo and First Lady Constancia Mangue Obiang.

President Obiang arrived in Zimbabwe on a two-day State visit aimed at deepening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation between the two African nations.

Addressing guests at the banquet, President Mnangagwa said the visit reaffirmed the strong and enduring ties between Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea and provided an opportunity to strengthen cooperation across various sectors.

"This visit is a celebration of our rich past, brotherly partnership and the enduring bond of friendship between our countries," said Mnangagwa.

"It also affords us an opportunity to chart a bold and transformative future for our mutual benefit."

The Zimbabwean leader expressed gratitude for Equatorial Guinea's support during periods of economic difficulty, particularly following the imposition of sanctions on Zimbabwe by some Western countries.

"Zimbabwe is forever indebted to Equatorial Guinea for the principled and courageous solidarity along with the economic and material support availed to us during our times of great need," he said.

"We shall never forget and will jealously guard our unity and solidarity."

Mnangagwa noted that diplomatic engagement between Harare and Ciudad de la Paz, Equatorial Guinea's new capital city, has intensified in recent years.

He recalled his State visit to Malabo in 2023, which resulted in the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding covering sectors such as agriculture, mining, transport, fisheries, tourism, culture and investment.

The President welcomed the recent convening of the first Zimbabwe–Equatorial Guinea Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation, describing it as an important step towards implementing existing agreements.

"I am confident that the outcome of these meetings will see the accelerated implementation of the various priority areas of our agreements," he said.

President Obiang said the visit should produce tangible outcomes that directly benefit citizens of both countries.

"The people are expecting us to turn our words into reality. And I am convinced that together we can all achieve this," he said.

"Therefore, this visit must mark a turning point. The relationship between Equatorial Guinea and Zimbabwe must identify opportunities and accelerate the implementation of these joint initiatives."

Obiang described Zimbabwe as a strategic partner with enormous economic potential and said the two countries share a common history of resilience, liberation struggles and aspirations for development.

"Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea share the same ideals that bind us geographically and we share a common history of struggle, resilience and pursuing dignity as African people," he said.

He added that both nations should work together to diversify their economies, accelerate industrialisation and strengthen human capital development to improve competitiveness on the international stage.

President Mnangagwa also highlighted the need for stronger cooperation among African countries and nations of the Global South in response to evolving global economic challenges.

He invited business leaders from both countries to strengthen trade and investment partnerships while encouraging greater use of public-private partnerships to unlock economic opportunities.

"I therefore invite business stakeholders to enhance business-to-business linkages for improved trade partnerships and mutual investments," he said.

The President also thanked African nations, including Equatorial Guinea, for supporting Zimbabwe's successful election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2027–2028 term.

He further expressed appreciation for Equatorial Guinea's continued support in calling for the removal of sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe.

The State Banquet was attended by Cabinet ministers, members of the diplomatic corps, senior government officials and leaders from the ruling Zanu-PF, among other distinguished guests.

The visit is expected to further strengthen political, economic and cultural ties between Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea while accelerating the implementation of bilateral agreements already signed by the two countries.