Rwanda’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe James Musoni called for legislative engagement between Zimbabwe and Rwanda during his courtesy call on Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Francis Nzwidamilimo Mudenda at the New Parliament Building in Mt Hampden yesterday.
In an interview, Ambassador Musoni said Rwanda valued its relations with Zimbabwe and was committed to using parliamentary diplomacy to strengthen ties between the two countries.
“Parliamentary diplomacy is an important component of our bilateral relations because it gives our legislators an opportunity to engage, exchange experiences and identify areas where our countries can work together,” Musoni said.
He said increased interaction between the two legislatures would help Zimbabwe and Rwanda share experiences in legislation and national development while creating opportunities for cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
“We believe that there is a lot that our two Parliaments can do together. Our legislators can learn from each other, share experiences and find practical areas of cooperation that can contribute to the development of our respective countries,” he said.
Musoni said Rwanda was keen to strengthen institutional links with Zimbabwe’s Parliament, arguing that parliamentary exchanges could complement relations between the two governments.
“We want to see stronger relations between our Parliaments because Parliament has an important role to play in strengthening the friendship between our peoples,” he said.
He added that continued dialogue between legislators would help deepen mutual understanding and ensure that the cordial relations between Harare and Kigali were translated into tangible areas of cooperation.
“Zimbabwe and Rwanda have excellent and cordial relations, and we want to build on that foundation. There is a need for us to continue engaging and looking at new areas where we can work together,” Musoni said.
The Ambassador also conveyed condolences from the Government and people of Rwanda following the Kariba ferry disaster.
“We would also like to express our deepest condolences to the Government and people of Zimbabwe following the Kariba ferry disaster. Rwanda stands in solidarity with Zimbabwe during this difficult time,” Musoni said.
He said the expression of solidarity reflected the strong bonds existing between the two countries.
“Our relationship is based on friendship and mutual respect, and moments such as this remind us of the importance of standing together as nations and as peoples,” he said.
The engagement reaffirmed the commitment of Zimbabwe and Rwanda to expanding cooperation through parliamentary diplomacy, with both sides exploring further opportunities for legislative exchanges and collaboration on matters of mutual interest.
