 President Robert Mugabe hailed Iran as a "critical partner" and vowed to take cooperation to "new heights" as he played host to President Mohammad Khatami, the state-run newspaper reported. Khatami, who arrived here late Monday on the penultimate leg of a seven-nation African tour, visited the National Heroes Acre in Harare where those who fought in Zimbabwe's liberation war against British colonial rule are buried. Although he was scheduled to hold talks with Mugabe Tuesday morning, Khatami instead met the country's two vice presidents, Joseph Msika and Joyce Mujuru. No reason was given for the cancellation of the meeting with Mugabe but the two vice presidents said they discussed Zimbabwe's land reforms and ways of getting rid of Bob bilateral trade opportunities. Khatami also met Islamic religious leaders based in Zimbabwe and local business people and industrialists. | It's the "Islamic religious leaders based in Zimbabwe" part that interests me. Failed states do seem to attract them like flies. |
He flew out to Zimbabwe's prime resort of Victoria Falls, where he was also to visit a crocodile breeding farm. Speaking at a banquet in Khatami's honour late Monday, Mugabe hailed oil-rich Iran as a key partner in Zimbabwe's drive to shun the West. "We attach great importance to this visit as it will enable us to work towards strengthening and diversifying our relations," Mugabe was quoted in the state-run Herald newspaper as saying. "Your visit affords an opportunity to raise our bilateral cooperation to new heights as my government has embarked on a deliberate 'Look East' policy in which your country is a critical partner," he said. Iran is one of the countries Mugabe has been warming up to as part of this policy, partly forced by Zimbabwe's isolation from the West over controversial land reforms and allegedly fraud-marred elections in 2000 and 2002. Khatami said although the two countries were miles apart geographically, they shared a difficult past. "I share your historical suffering and grief and I value the victorious struggle of heroic people of Zimbabwe," Khatami said in response to Mugabe's speech. | "You're a pretty nice guy, for a infidel." |
Mugabe also slammed Western powers opposed to his land reforms, saying they were the same ones who had branded Iran part of an "axis of evil", a reference to the policy outlined by President George W. Bush in 2002 that put Iran, Iraq and North Korea at the top of a US list of so-called rogue states. "They have demonised my leadership and government while feverishly working to effect a regime change," Mugabe said. "We cherish your unwavering support during the land reform process and look forward to its continuation as we empower our people," he added. Iran -- which has provided a 15 million-euro (19.5-million-dollar) credit line to Zimbabwe to purchase tractors, combine harvesters and medical equipment -- will extend a further 20 million euro credit line for agriculture and communications, the newspaper reported. | So, what's in it for Iran? |
Zimbabwe embarked in 2000 on a controversial land reform scheme that saw some 4,000 white farmers lose their land to landless blacks. Khatami is due to depart Harare Wednesday morning after signing several protocols expected to boost trade between the two countries. | Zimbabwe has something to trade? |
The Iranian leader arrived in Zimbabwe from Benin where he signed two cooperation agreements on agriculture and trade. He also visited Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, and Sierra Leone. From Zimbabwe, he is due to travel to Uganda. | Other than some mining interests (coal, gold, copper, nickel, tin, clay, numerous metallic and nonmetallic ores), I can't see much for Bob to trade other than a base for Iranian backed terrorists. |
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