Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Mabasa Sasa
7 November 2009
Harare — President Mugabe yesterday left for Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, to join other Heads of State and Government attending the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation, where the leaders will review progress made in strengthening Sino-Africa ties since the 2006 Beijing Summit.
He was seen off at the Harare International Airport by top Government and Chinese officials as well as service chiefs.
President Mugabe, who is the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, will today address the opening ceremony.
Vice President Mujuru will be the Acting President during President Mugabe's absence.
Apart from reviewing the implementation of agreements already reached, Africa and China's political leadership will also chart the course of action for the next three years.
Sino-Africa ties are premised on the principle of friendly co-operation to jointly meet the challenges of globalisation and promote mutual development.
The idea of having a formal forum through which to explore joint initiatives dates back to 2000 when the first Focac was held in Beijing.
Focac is a platform established by the two sides for collective consultation and dialogue within the spirit of South-South co-operation.
Africa's ties with China date back to the continent's liberation struggle.
Relations between the two have grown in leaps and bounds over the past decade, with Africa appreciative of China's deliberate and stated principle of non-interference in domestic political affairs.
This is in marked contrast to the manner in which Western countries have historically sought to undermine Africa through unfair trade arrangements and direct meddling in local politics.
At the first Ministerial Conference of Focac leaders present adopted the Beijing Declaration and Programme for China-Africa Co-operation in Economic and Social Development.
The conference charted the direction for the development of a new, stable and long-term partnership featuring equality and mutual benefit between China and African countries.
At the Beijing Summit and Third Ministerial Conference in 2006, 48 African Heads of State and Government and the Chinese leadership discussed further co-operative measures.
Leaders then adopted the 2007-2009 Action Plan, which will be reviewed in Sharm el-Sheikh.
Zimbabwe, in particular, has benefited immensely from ties with China.
Beijing has extended over US$300 million for Zimbabwe's economic turnaround programmes in addition to US$500 000 to fight last year's cholera outbreak.
Construction of China-Zimbabwe Friendship Hospital in Mahusekwa, Mashonaland East province, began on October 30 this year.
The hospital covers 6 600 square metres and will have 100 beds when complete.
The total investment of the project is about US$10 million.
The Chinese recently completed the construction of a school in Bindura, while an
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President leaves for China-Africa Summit
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other one in Harare's environs will be done by the end of this year, with both projects costing US$1,5 million.
An 80-hectare agricultural demonstration centre is under construction at Gwebi College and 10 senior Chinese agricultural experts -- who arrived in the country on October 25 -- will assist in grain production, dryland farming, aquaculture, animal disease prevention and control, and irrigation.
In 2009, the Chinese government donated US$5 million through the World Food Programme.
China, along with Russia, South Africa and others, has also been at the forefront of defending Zimbabwe from the political Western onslaught at the United Nations Security Council in recent years.
Recently, China's Ambassador in Harare, Mr Xin Shunkang, said: "The Chinese side highly appreciates Zimbabwe's firm commitment to the One-China Policy and its support of China's great cause of reunification.
"The Chinese government and people value its traditional friendship with Zimbabwe, view Zimbabwe as a trustworthy friend and important partner.
"China is ready to work with Zimbabwe to further strengthen the existing friendly relations and co-operation to bring more benefits to our two peoples."
Meanwhile, earlier in the day, President Mugabe capped 300 Bindura University of Science Education graduates who successfully completed degree courses in the university's eighth graduation ceremony.
Of the 300 students who graduated from the faculties of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science Education and Faculty of Commerce, 15 were awarded with master's degrees.
In his keynote address, BUSE acting Vice Chancellor Mr Cuthbert Katsvanga said the university was striving to create a conducive environment for student empowerment and learning.
"The university is committed to offering quality education and be among the first to be accredited by the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education," he said.
He said the university had completed three computer laboratories and furnished them with 20 brand new state-of-the- art computers each.
"We have accomplished wireless Internet connection to enable students and staff to access the Internet from any point on the campus and bought a printing press which is already running.
"The printing press will serve to generate income for the institution," he said, adding the university would print textbooks.
The university, he said, had installed ten 5 000-litre water storage tanks and another 10 000-litre tank, which were donated by Unicef, while a borehole was sunk to complement existing boreholes.
Mr Katsvanga added that the university valued private public partnerships.
"In this respect the university engaged Mr Hanif Ahmed Allana, a philanthropist, who came up with a scholarship for the financially less privileged students," he said.
Mr Allana yesterday also donated a motor vehicle, a motorcycle and four printers to the university.
Mr Katsvanga paid tribute to members of the university council including Dr Solomon Guramatunhu, Dr J. Nyika, Mr K. S. Musanhi, whom he said had assisted the university in various ways and set up important support programmes.
He applauded the Mashonaland Central Governor and Resident Minister Advocate Martin Dinha for assisting the university especially in terms of networking.
Mr Katsvanga told President Mugabe that the university's second five-year strategic plan was now in place and would guide them towards the institution's ambitious projects.
He, however, said the university still faced a critical accommodation problems since only 500 can be accommodated by the university's hostels yet the total enrolment stood at 2 000.
Members of the staff have been forced to share rooms, a situation that has hampered the university's recruitment efforts.
Turning to tuition fees, Mr Katsvanga said most students were battling to raise the money though parents were trying the best to make payments.
He praised Government for its cadetship programme saying it had proved useful to disadvantaged students of whom about 450 were beneficiaries at the institution.
Mr Katsvanga expressed concern at the brain drain that had affected its science education programmes that had hard hit secondary schools.
Many teachers are leaving the profession for greener pastures in the Diaspora.
Mr Katsvanga applauded President Mugabe on his educational expansion programme that had made university education available to all Zimbabweans.
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IS AFRICA FOR SALE ? 1) I’ve heard that one African country made a 99-year deal with an Asian country to lease a part of their land. 2) How can anyone make a deal for the next generation ? 3) What can we do about it ? 4) Organize and get those crooks out of office or any position of power.
5) Pray to God For insight and divine intervention.
6) Africa Is being targeted by many who are not respecting Africa.
7) We must stop selling ourselves and respect ourselves, our families and God.
Daniel 11:44 But NEWS OUT OF THE EAST (CHINA?) AND OUT OF THE NORTH ( RUSSIA ?) shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forward with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many Revelations 16:12 And the 6th angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water of it was dried up, that the way of the KINGS OF THE EAST might be prepared.
[Daniel 11:14 ]] And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south(AMERICA / BABYLON ): ALSO the ROBBERS OF OUR PEOPLE shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; BUT THEY SHALL FALL !
WAKE UP ! STAY UP MY BROTHERS & SISTERS !
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- Life Is a Game. Have Fun. [ Luke 18:17 / Isaiah 11:6 ]