By Lauryne Akoth
President William Ruto has secured Zimbabwe’s support for opposition leader Raila Odinga’s bid for the African Union Commission chairmanship.
Kenya has presented its candidature for AUC Chairperson for 2025 – 2028.
This comes in the wake of a unanimous decision by the African Union Executive Council, on 15th March 2024, that the Eastern Africa region submit candidates for the AU Chairperson.
President Ruto noted that Kenya’s candidature is informed by the role that the country plays in enhancing the Pan–African Agenda.
“I am assured that Kenya and Zimbabwe will persist in conferring and backing each other on multitude issues of bilateral, regional, and continental significance alongside the African Union
Agenda 2063,” said President Ruto.
President Ruto made the remarks at the Bulawayo State House, Zimbabwe on Saturday, during bilateral talks with his counterpart Emmerson Mnangagwa.
During the bilateral meeting, Kenya and Zimbabwe signed nine MoUs in the fields of transport, infrastructure, health, education, defense, trade, and investments among other areas.
President Mnagangwa emphasized on the need for investors to exploit existing opportunities in the two countries.
Meanwhile, Kenya and Zimbabwe will leverage on their rich shared history, socio-cultural, political and economic ties as well as abundant natural resources for the mutual benefit of their citizens.
President Ruto said the two countries have a deep understanding that underpins their mutual support over the years in diverse arenas.
“Based on this, I wish to declare Kenya’s unreserved support for Zimbabwe’s readmission to the Commonwealth, and for the African Union’s call for the immediate lifting of all illegal sanctions against the Republic of Zimbabwe,” said President Ruto.
Kenya’s commitment to the principle of sovereign equality of nations and states, and a rule-based multilateral system makes no room for the contemplation or imposition of unilateral coercive measures.
“I stand here to affirm Kenya’s commitment to the flourishing of our bilateral relations, and our shared determination to advance and enhance mutual benefit through partnership and consultation,” said President Ruto.
President Ruto made the remarks on Friday evening during a banquet hosted in his honour at the Bulawayo State House in Zimbabwe.
The head of state highlighted President Mnangagwa’s strong dedication to advancing the development of energy, transportation, and communication infrastructure.
These elements serve as facilitators for trade, investment, productivity, and efficiency, reflecting the boldness and ambition of his vision for Zimbabwe’s economic revitalization.
“To underscore this observation, I further note your government’s decision to break new ground in monetary policy and inaugurate a new currency backed by gold and other asset reserves, as compelling proof of Your Excellency’s irrevocable intent to usher in a new era of economic recovery and transformation,” said President Ruto.
He expressed confidence that the two countries are poised to accomplish immense growth together, based on the bilateral frameworks of cooperation and the numerous areas of potential mutual gains.
President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe will forever be grateful to Kenya for standing resolutely with the country, particularly in the clarion and unequivocal call for the removal of illegal Western-imposed economic sanctions.
“We have a common and rich liberation war history and a shared vision for prosperity, peace, and progress,” said President Mnangagwa.
“As we look into the future, we must now leverage on the current social, political, and economic ties as well as natural endowments for the mutual benefit of our two countries and peoples,” he further added.
He noted that Zimbabwe took a leaf from Kenya, especially in infrastructure development that is now ubiquitous in the country as roads, that were in a state of disrepair, were now being resurfaced in every part of the country.
“We are on course to attain our national Vision 2030 to become an empowered upper-middle-income economy,” said Zimbabwe’s head of state.
“The reforms undertaken since the inception of the Second Republic have seen a conducive business environment, which has in turn increased both local and foreign investments across all sectors,” he emphasized.