At least 32 heads of state to attend 50th anniversary of Mozambique's independence - Watch
Photo: Twitter / @ZimTreasury
Joaquim Chissano, former Mozambican President, arrived in Zimbabwe on Sunday ahead of the second structured dialogue platform Indaba on debt that will be held on Thursday, Pindula News reports.
According to the Zimbabwean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Joaquim Chissano’s delegation includes former Prime Minister of Mozambique Luisa Diogo, former Foreign Minister of Mozambique Leonardo Simao.
Tomorrow, the Former President of the Republic of Mozambique H.E Joaquim Chissano is expected in Zimbabwe, as the High-Level Facilitator of the Arrears Clearance and Debt Resolution Process. The highly powered delegation also includes the AFDB President Dr Akinwumi Adesina. pic.twitter.com/5PMAZ9pCgT
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Int Trade (@MoFA_ZW) February 18, 2023
The Indaba which is between government, creditors and development partners is meant to discuss economic and governance reforms to anchor the arrears clearance and debt resolution process, according to Chronicle.
Chissano was met by Finance and Economic Development Deputy Minister Clemence Chiduwa at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.
He will co-chair the meeting with African Development Bank president Dr Akinwumi Adesina.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa last year appointed former President Chissano as the high-level facilitator of Zimbabwe ‘s arrears clearance and debt resolution process, while Dr Adesina was appointed champion of the process.
Zimbabwe owes US$14 billion to multilateral financial institutions, bilateral partners, and other creditors.
READ: Chissano to lead Zimbabwe re-engagement drive – Zim report
Speaking to journalists on his arrival, former President Chissano said:
“I have come here on the invitation of both President Mnangagwa and AfDB president Adesina. We will be launching the second meeting to deal with the arrears and debt of Zimbabwe.
“I have been asked to be the facilitator of this discussion between Zimbabwe and key stakeholders so I am here for that.”
Former President Chissano said preparations for the meeting will start today, with preliminary engagements with stakeholders.
Deputy Minister Chiduwa expressed the country’s gratitude for the role being played by the former Mozambican leader. Chiduwa said:
“As a way forward in terms of what we have done so far, in December (last year) we had our first meeting and that meeting focused on how best we can go forward.
The inaugural structured dialogue platform meeting agreed on three pillars for implementation, namely economic reforms and stability, governance reforms and land tenure and compensation of white former commercial farmers, including the resolution of bilateral investment protection and promotion agreements.
Chiduwa added:
“This then led to two areas, those areas that we are referring to as reform areas.
“We have the reform area on economics and the governance area. So, having met with our creditors and the development, we managed to come up with a reform matrix and that is what we are going to discuss now on Thursday”.
Meanwhile, some analysts are sceptical of the impact Chissano will have on the Zimbabwean debt.
In a Twitter post seen by Pindula News, an Economic blogger, Tinashe, twitter handle Baba_nyenyedzi, said:
“Zimbabwe is in a debt trap. Will Chissano be able to move things forward? Zim authorities are not yet ready for the creditor discussion. The hope is that Chissano might unlock political willingness. As usual Zim authorities believe they can tell creditors what to do”.
The government says the High-Level Visit reflects the ongoing foreign policy thrust by Zimbabwe of re-engaging International Financial Institutions for purpose of international debt clearance and access to international finance.
The Deputy Minister of Finance, Hon. C. Chiduwa yesterday welcomed the Former President of the Republic of Mozambique H.E J. Chissano at the RGM International Airport ahead of the upcoming High-Level Arrears Clearance & Debt Resolution Forum scheduled for 23 February 2023. pic.twitter.com/nMyPQv1sSg
— Ministry of Finance & Economic Development (@ZimTreasury) February 20, 2023
Tomorrow, the Former President of the Republic of Mozambique H.E Joaquim Chissano is expected in Zimbabwe, as the High-Level Facilitator of the Arrears Clearance and Debt Resolution Process. The highly powered delegation also includes the AFDB President Dr Akinwumi Adesina. pic.twitter.com/5PMAZ9pCgT
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Int Trade (@MoFA_ZW) February 18, 2023
#MondayEngagements
The @ZNCCNational CE @MugagaTakunda met with former Mozambican President HE @JoaquimChissano at the 2nd Structured Dialogue Platform on arrears clearance & debt resolution this morning. Chissano convened a meeting with key representatives in the Private sector pic.twitter.com/ldNCMZigVG— ZNCC National Office (@ZNCCNational) February 20, 2023
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