Mugabe arrives in Kenya

PRESIDENT Mugabe arrived here yesterday to join other African Heads of State and Government attending the Sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI) Summit. He was received at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport by Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi who travelled ahead of him, Kenya's permanent secretary for Defence Kanmi Kabeira, Zimbabwe's ambassador to Kenya Kelebert Nkomani, Kenya's ambassador to Zimbabwe Lucy Chelimo and Zimbabwe's embassy staff.

Soon after his arrival, President Mugabe signed the visitors' book before he proceeded to his hotel. Health and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa and Industry and Commerce Deputy Minister Chiratidzo Mabuwa are also part of President Mugabe's delegation.

President Mugabe was seen off at the Harare International Airport by Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko (who is Acting President), Government officials and senior civil servants. More than 35 African leaders have confirmed their participation at this high level meeting which is starting today at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is the convener of the Summit, arrived here on Thursday. TICAD contributes to the facilitation and promotion of high-level policy dialogue between African leaders and Africa's development partners on issues relating to economic growth, trade and investment, sustainable development, human security, peace and stability and governance.

The summit, which is ending tomorrow, is being held in Africa for the first time since its inception in 1993. In 1993, Japan co-hosted the inaugural TICAD conference and had done so in the subsequent years on a five year interval.

By providing an opportunity for high-level policy dialogue, TICAD has become a critical global platform through which Asian and African nations, as well as international stakeholders, can collaborate to promote Africa's development. As a multilateral partnership, TICAD processes actively promote South-South and triangular cooperation, in addition to traditional co-operation.

The summit, which is co-organised by the Government of Japan, the United Nations Office of the Special Adviser on Africa, the United Nations Development Programme, the African Union and the World Bank, will focus on promoting structural economic transformation through diversification and industrialisation; promoting resilient health system for quality life and promoting social stability for shared prosperity.

Various side events such as seminars/symposiums, exhibitions and business forum have been scheduled to run concurrently with the TICAD VI Summit.

The decision to host TICAD VI Summit in Africa was reached during the TICAD V Summit in 2013 when it was agreed that the venue of subsequent TICAD Summits be alternated between Japan and Africa. The interval of summit Meetings was also shortened from every five years to three years.