Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Professor Amon Murwira, held a bilateral meeting with Gabon’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Marie Edith Tassyla, yesterday, on the sidelines of the 48th Ordinary Session of the African Union Executive Council in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Speaking after the meeting, Professor Murwira reaffirmed Zimbabwe’s commitment to strengthening ties with Gabon, highlighting the importance of intra-African partnerships.
“Zimbabwe attaches great value to its relations with Gabon. Our discussions reflect a shared determination to revitalise cooperation and explore new avenues of partnership that advance our development priorities,”he said.
He added that the ministers also exchanged views on political matters of mutual interest.
“We held constructive discussions on issues of common concern, which will be referred to our respective Heads of State for further consideration,” Professor Murwira said.
Building on Minister Murwira’s sentiments, Honourable Tassyla underscored the depth of relations between the two countries, describing Zimbabwe and Gabon as “two brothers.”
“Zimbabwe and Gabon are two brothers. Our relations are rooted in solidarity and mutual respect,” she said. “However, we recognise that our cooperation has not been as dynamic as we would have wished. This meeting was therefore important to inject renewed momentum into our bilateral engagement.”
Minister Tassyla said Gabon was keen to deepen collaboration with Zimbabwe in strategic sectors critical to economic growth and sustainable development.
“We see significant opportunities for cooperation in mining, agriculture and environmental management.
These are areas where both our countries possess strong potential, and by working together we can unlock tangible benefits for our people,” she said.
She revealed that discussions were already underway to formalise a broader framework for cooperation.
“We are considering an exchange of letters that will establish a general framework for cooperation. This will help consolidate relations and provide a structured basis for future engagements,” Gabon’s Minister added.
The engagement centred on enhancing cooperation between the two sister republics, with both ministers acknowledging the historical bonds of solidarity linking Harare and Libreville.
On high-level exchanges, the Gabonese Foreign Minister indicated that reciprocal visits had been positively received by both parties.
“The issue of reciprocal visits was welcomed. Once the exchange of letters is concluded, we will work towards facilitating official visits, including the possibility of a state visit by our two Heads of State,”Minister Tassyla said
Zimbabwe and Gabon maintain longstanding diplomatic relations anchored on shared values of African unity and cooperation. Recent AU platforms have provided renewed opportunities for member states to reassess and strengthen bilateral partnerships aligned with continental development goals.
