JAPAN PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is in Japan on a working visit, held several meetings this Thursday, including an engagement with representatives of the diaspora community residing in the Asian nation, where Zimbabwe’s success story in agriculture took centre stage.
The President updated Zimbabweans in Japan on key developments back home, highlighting achievements in food security and education.
“We are proud that we are registering progress in whichever field you may want to look at. In Agriculture, we would import wheat, but now we have a surplus. On the food front, we are food secure. It’s critically important that we are food secure. We are among the counties that provide good education in our region. Yes, we have constraints, but we have no control over the weather. Our minister of agriculture makes sure we don’t import food. Yes, we have challenges like every country’s, but we’re managing them,” he said.
President Mnangagwa also reminded the diaspora community across the world that they have a part to play in building the country’s economy.
He said the Second Republic is wary of increasing the country’s debt and has put in place measures to ensure utilisation of local resources.
“We told Professor Mthuli Ncube that we do not want to have too many debts. We told him we should focus on our resources and be who we are based on the resources we have. If he were not here, I would say he does well, but now that he’s here, he is trying. I am happy that each time we go abroad, I hear that Zimbabweans in the diaspora are well-respected and are professional. I am happy that you are here. We will never neglect you as diasporans and never forget that you’re Zimbabweans,” the President said.
Earlier on, officials from Toyota Tsusho, led by the entity’s executive officer, Mr Kohei Okada, paid a courtesy call on the President.
Emerging from the meeting, Finance, Economic Development, and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube said Toyota is looking into expanding its business activities in Zimbabwe, including considerations to set up an assembly plant.
“Toyota paid a courtesy call on the President this afternoon. They are already in Zimbabwe, but they are looking into expanding their business activities in Zimbabwe. They are already in Zimbabwe, and they are a top brand, but we are working to make sure they also diversify to manufacture locally. As you know, we have put in a policy now to say if you bring semi-knockdown kits and you assemble locally to create jobs, there is no duty on that, so we wanted to really make sure they take advantage of that to do more,” he said.
Next to pay a courtesy call on President Mnangagwa was the governor of Mie Prefecture, Mr Ichimi Katsuyuki, who has interests in Zimbabwe’s petalite.
“We received warm words, especially about the export of Petalite, which we use as a raw material from Zimbabwe for making earthworm pots. Petalite is indispensable for the pottery, and Mr President said they will cooperate with us continuously for the petalite in Zimbabwe,” Governor, Mie Prefecture, Katsuyuki Ichimi said.
President Mnangagwa is expected to conclude his working visit to Japan this Friday.
