Zimbabwe and Palestine are committed to empowering and fostering sustainable development in their respective commitments to strengthen relations.
Built on the foundation of long-standing solidarity, friendship and cooperation, the relations are on solid ground, says Palestine ambassador to Zimbabwe, Tamer Almassri.
The ambassador was speaking exclusively to The Afronews at his embassy in the capital Harare close to the capital’s largest referral hospital, Parirenyatwa.
Ambassador Almassri told The Afronews last week that the two countries had just signed four memoranda of understanding agreed during last March visit by the Palestinian foreign affairs minister Riad Malki.
“We’re interested in the following areas: health, agriculture, education and the media,” says the ambassador, explaining the next few months “are going to see more positive development”.
The top diplomat reaffirmed his country’s long-term and principled support for the Zimbabwean people, telling The Afronews his country remained committed to support Zimbabwe initiatives aimed at refocusing and re-engagement at the international level.
“We have strong relations going back into history – from the time we were two movements fighting a just struggle against two apartheid regimes of racist Rhodesia and zionist Israel.
“Our revolutionary relations in the trenches started way back in the early 1970s,” he says, adding: “As the PLO we were and are proud we participated in Zimbabwe’s struggle against the then white settler regime.”
Diplomatic relations were established in 1980..
The ambassador says Palestine appreciates the solidarity and diplomatic efforts taken by the revolutionary and progressive Zimbabwean leadership in support of Palestine against zionist Israel at all international for a – from the Africa Union to the United Nations.
Almassri disclosed the two states are now moving into a new phase after the recent official cooperation agreements between the government of and the PSAALESTINE International Cooperation Agency (PICA.)
Diplomat and programme officer at PICA Ms Duwa al-Dweik, who was part of the team that was in Harare last week, says they were interested in various areas of cooperation especially in health and the media..
And to further augument and cement the cooperation, PICA has been making its presence felt in local communities with the latest being borehole drilling in and around Harare,
“We intend to drill more and hope these will provide and enhance potable water and sanitation to local communities,” says Ms al-Dweik.
“The medical programme is being implemented in partnership with the Angel of Hope Foundation, whose mission is to support the most vulnerable in society through providing access to healthcare, social services, education and economic empowerment in the country.
She explained they had brought in Palestinian medical doctors to Zimbabwe who carried out over 300 cataracts surgeries for people with partial blindness at Parirenyatwa Hospital.
‘”We have also conducted a media programme for the benefit of local journalists,” she adds.
Conducted by six Palestinian experts, Ms al-Dweik explains the media programme focused on media ethics, digital storytelling, media management and social platforms in the modern era.
“PICA is committed to fostering sustainable development practices not only in Zimbabwe but across the globe,” she emphasised.
“And the implementation of these projects in Zimbabwe is a clear testament to that belief and reflects the solidarity between the two countries.”
