Harare — Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Ghaddafi's son, Lieutenant-Colonel Engineer Saadi Muammar Al-Ghaddafi, jetted into Harare yesterday for a five-day visit to explore business opportunities in Zimbabwe.

Speaking after arrival at Harare International Airport, Lt-Col Al Ghaddafi said he would be looking at investment possibilities in different sectors of the economy.

"We would like to look at business opportunities in Zimbabwe for Libyan investment especially in agriculture and tourism," he said.

Welcoming him, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi said Lt-Col Al Ghaddafi is part of Government's celebrity host programme.

"Zimbabwe and Libya have binding relations and this visit to us is also part of our celebrity host programme and when we receive important people we invoke our entire machinery to extend as much hospitality to our visitors so we hope you will enjoy your stay in the country in addition to the business engagements you will be involved in," he said.

Lt-Col Al Ghaddafi is today expected to hold meetings with senior Government officials including those from the ministries of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development and Economic Development and Investment Promotion.

Minister Mzembi, whose ministry is hosting Lt- Col Al Ghaddafi, said Government would take this opportunity to show him tourism attractions in Zimbabwe.

"We will take him to the Victoria Falls for a three-day excursion and I hope we will extend the visit to a wildlife sanctuary.

"During that period we will showcase our new Victoria Falls master plan and see what investment opportunities that he can leave with from Zimbabwe."

Lt-Col Al Ghaddafi's arrival was, however, marred by hitches after immigration officials delayed issuing his delegation visas.

Observers queried the delay when Zimbabwe is trying to lure foreign investment.

Minister Mzembi had to underwrite Lt-Col Ghaddafi's entry into Zimbabwe because of the investment the delegation is promising the country.

Lt-Col Al Ghaddafi is a businessman and former professional footballer who played for three Serie A clubs -- Perugia, Napoli and Sampdoria -- in Italy.

A former captain of the Libyan national team, which played Zimbabwe in the 1990s, he launched a project to create a semi-autonomous city similar to Hong Kong in Libya stretching from Tripoli to the border with Tunisia. The proposed city would become a high-tech, banking, medical and educational centre to which visitors do not need visas to enter.

Lt-Col Al Ghaddafi has other business interests in companies such as Tamoil, an oil refining and marketing company.