by Claver Nyuki
Former fierce critic of the former President Robert Mugabe, Petina Gappah, has given thumbs up to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s leadership, praising him as a man of action. The comments came ahead of the President’s maiden speech tonight at the ongoing 73rd United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, United States.
President Mnangagwa’s much anticipated speech, is expected to charm the international community and further his re-engagement drive and the Zimbabwe is open for business mantra that aim to attract the much needed Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Government is prioritising the resuscitation of the country’s economy.
Gappah revealed on her Facebook page of the candid bilateral engagements which included meetings with the United States (US) officials in a bid to strengthen ties between the two countries.
“ED delivers his speech today but even before that, there was lots of work that will make an impact.
“From Heads of State, Government officials, investors and others, we have had an exceptional series of meetings. Crucially, far from the glare of publicity and away from incendiary headlines, we advanced our dialogue with the US with candid conversations about what needs to be done,” she said.
Gappah also commended President Mnangagwa for cutting the number of delegates who accompanied him, revealing that the advance duties were handled by the Zimbabwe’s New York and Washington DC embassies.
“ED gave strict instructions to keep the delegation small and tight. I have never seen him travel with such a small team. This is where having two embassies really paid off because the advance preparations were done by New York and DC without having to send a large advance team. And, boy, did they deliver.”
President Mnangagwa is set to address the General Assembly tonight and people are expecting the speech to show the world that Zimbabwe has indeed entered a new dispensation.
