Harare - KING Mswati III of Swaziland has hailed the success and good work of the inclusive Government while reiterating previous calls for the immediate lifting of sanctions on Zimbabwe.
Speaking at a banquet held in his honour by President Mugabe at Rainbow Towers yesterday, King Mswati III said the region would continue to support the country.
He said he was confident Zimbabweans would continue to work together for the development of their country.
"I have come here to acknowledge and applaud the success and good work of the inclusive Government.
"We believe the Zimbabwean spirit of nationalism and unity shall continue amongst yourselves until Zimbabwe overcomes challenges.
"The people of Zimbabwe have clearly demonstrated to the whole world that you are capable of resolving your national challenges as a sovereign state."
The Swazi monarch jetted into the country yesterday afternoon on a three-day State visit after which he will attend the 13th Comesa Heads of State and Government Summit in Victoria Falls.
He said the region was doing all in its power to assist Zimbabwe and his government was considering a programme to determine how it could support the country.
"We are confident that the people of Zimbabwe, working together, will be able to resolve all the outstanding issues and thereby hasten the development and prosperity of the country.
"On our part as friends of Zimbabwe, we shall continue supporting this nation by, amongst other things, calling on all nations of the world to support this country and to end all sanctions so that the people of Zimbabwe can work without any obstacles."
President Mugabe hailed the king for the role he played in the resolution of Zimbabwe's political stand-off since he assumed the chairmanship of the Sadc Organ on Politics, Defence and Security in South Africa in August last year.
He also thanked Sadc for the support it had given to the inclusive Government.
"It was there (in South Africa) that Sadc took great strides in resolving sticky issues that were hindering agreement on the formation of the inclusive Government.
"Most recently, it was under Your Majesty's chairmanship that Sadc, at its Extraordinary Summit on 30 March, 2009, at Lozitha Royal Palace, received commitments from member states to assist Zimbabwe in its economic recovery efforts," President Mugabe said.
President Mugabe said it was gratifying that the inclusive Government had received significant support from the region with a number of Sadc members extending lines of credit and joint venture proposals.
Sadc has lobbied for the lifting of the illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by some Western governments.
"We are confident that the lifting of sanctions will give us the leverage in our endeavours to turn around the economy as articulated in the Short-Term Emergency Recovery Programme.
"I am also happy to note that Sadc efforts have already started to bear fruit.
"We have begun to witness overtures towards re-engagement from a number of Western countries and international financial institutions who, yesterday, were adopting a wait-and-see attitude on my Government," said President Mugabe.
He added that a number of Western countries had their unnecessary travel warnings removed, adding that he hoped this would boost the recovery of the tourism sector.
On co-operation between Zimbabwe and Swaziland, President Mugabe said the two countries could enhance ties in such key sectors as agriculture, manufacturing, mining and tourism, with a view to promoting bilateral trade and investment.
"Since our economies are complementary, there is merit in encouraging our respective local businesspeople to invest in both countries."
There was also scope for closer co-operation in the area of culture, given that the two countries shared several cultural and linguistic simi-
larities, the Zimbabwean leader noted.
President Mugabe said Zimbabwe remained committed to international peace and security, while calling on all United Nations members to uphold the principles and values of the world body's charter.
He said it was worth noting that Swaziland had played a pivotal role in the reform of the UN following African Union meetings that came up with the Ezulwini Consensus that lays down Africa's expectations on the reform of the organisation.
"We are aware of attempts to digress from this consensus by some member states. Zimbabwe will not allow itself to be distracted from this principled African decision."
President Mugabe said Zimbabwe fully subscribed to the spirit and ideals of a United States of Africa as envisaged by the continent's founding fathers when they established the Organisation of African Unity in 1963, and as enshrined in the Constitutive Act of the African Union.
Zimbabwe agreed with those advocating a gradual approach using the regional economic communities as the indicative building blocs for the eventual establishment of an African supra-national authority, he said.
On his arrival, King Mswati III received a rousing welcome at the Harare International Airport that included a 21-gun salute -- the highest honour that can be bestowed on a visiting head of state.
The Swazi monarch also inspected the guard of honour.
He was welcomed by President Mugabe, First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe, Vice President Joice Mujuru, Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, Information and Publicity Minister Webster Shamu, and other senior Government officials, service chiefs and diplomats.
Accompanying King Mswati III were Chief Officer of the Kingdom Mr Bheki Dlamini, Swaziland's Foreign Affairs Minister Mr Lutto Dlamini, as well as the monarch's wife, children and relatives.
King Mswati III will visit Norton today before travelling to Bulawayo.
After that he will join his fellow Heads of State and Government in Victoria Falls for the 13th Comesa Summit.
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