Staff Reporter

The New Parliament building in Mt Hampden is a testimony of the good relations that exist between Zimbabwe and China.

This was said today by President Mnangagwa while delivering the State of the Nation Address (SONA) during the official opening of the fifth session of the ninth Parliament.

“This State-of-the-Art and Majestic, New Parliament Building here in Mt. Hampden, where we are gathered, is testimony of the strategic and comprehensive partnership and excellent fraternal relations between our great motherland, Zimbabwe and the People’s Republic of China,” said President Mnangagwa.

The President added that the completion of the New Parliament showed that the country’s foreign policy of Engagement and Re-engagement was bearing fruits.

“Zimbabwe’s foreign policy of Engagement and Re-engagement, as well as our thrust to be a ‘friend to all and an enemy to none’ continues to bear fruit. Our diplomatic missions have been re-focussed towards economic diplomacy and diaspora engagement to attract investment and mutually beneficial partnerships,” said the President.

President Mnangagwa said that dialogue was the only option to resolve global challenges.

“Our country welcomes the invitation to attend the US-Africa Summit in December, 2022 and emphasis remains on dialogue and multilateralism as the best option to resolve today’s global challenges,” added the President.

President Mnangagwa applauded Zimbabweans who were excelling in other parts of the world and said that a sanctions free Zimbabwe was ready to do more within the comity of nations.

Meanwhile, President Mnangagwa said that outstanding Bills from the Fourth Session of the Ninth Parliament must be expedited. These include the Child Justice Bill, the Judicial Laws (Amendment) Bill, and the Prisons and Correctional Service (Amendment) Bill.