Speaking
in
an
interview
following
Zimbabwe’s
engagement
at
the
global
forum,
Prof
Murwira
said
the
country’s
presence
at
Davos
aligns
with
President
Emmerson
Dambudzo
Mnangagwa’s
economic
diplomacy
policy,
which
places
trade,
investment
and
peaceful
international
cooperation
at
the
centre
of
national
development.
Zimbabwe’s
key
objective
at
the
forum,
he
said,
was
to
better
understand
the
evolving
global
geopolitical
and
economic
environment
in
order
to
position
the
country
strategically
in
an
increasingly
complex
world.
“We
normally
say
you
have
to
understand
the
seas
before
you
navigate
your
ship,”
Prof
Murwira
said.
“At
Davos,
we
focused
on
understanding
the
global
political,
economic
and
geopolitical
landscape
so
that
Zimbabwe
can
navigate
effectively.”
He
noted
that
under
the
Second
Republic,
Zimbabwe
has
consistently
participated
at
the
World
Economic
Forum
since
2018
as
part
of
efforts
to
re-engage
the
international
community,
restore
national
dignity
and
promote
prosperity.
According
to
the
minister,
discussions
at
Davos
centred
on
how
emerging
geopolitical
realities
are
reshaping
trade,
global
governance
and
economic
growth
–
insights
he
said
are
critical
as
Zimbabwe
refines
its
global
engagement
strategy.
Addressing
scepticism
about
the
relevance
of
global
forums
to
Zimbabwe,
Prof
Murwira
stressed
that
Davos
is
not
merely
an
elite
gathering,
but
a
platform
where
decisions
influencing
jobs,
investment,
technology,
energy
and
trade
are
shaped.
“For
Zimbabwe,
trade
is
an
instrument
of
peace
and
prosperity,”
he
said.
“If
we
don’t
trade,
what
do
we
do?
Do
we
grab
and
go?
Trade
creates
jobs,
builds
industries
and
improves
livelihoods.”
He
added
that
Zimbabwe’s
participation
helps
position
the
country
as
a
credible,
stable
and
trustworthy
investment
destination,
opening
doors
to
partnerships
that
translate
into
real
economic
activity
at
home.
Alongside
the
main
Davos
programme,
Zimbabwe
held
several
high-level
bilateral
meetings
focused
on
concrete
economic
outcomes.
These
included
engagements
with
Gavi,
the
Global
Alliance
for
Vaccines
and
Immunisation,
aimed
at
strengthening
cooperation
in
vaccine
manufacturing
and
health
systems,
as
well
as
discussions
with
Philip
Morris
International
(PMI)
on
enhancing
Zimbabwe’s
tobacco
value
chain.
“Zimbabwe
is
one
of
Africa’s
leading
tobacco
producers,
with
an
expected
output
of
about
500
million
kilograms
this
year,”
Prof
Murwira
said.
“We
are
encouraging
direct
purchases
from
Zimbabwe
and
greater
participation
across
the
tobacco
value
chain.”
The
minister
also
confirmed
talks
with
India
on
energy
cooperation,
emphasising
that
energy
remains
a
critical
enabler
of
industrialisation,
agriculture
and
economic
development.
Prof
Murwira
said
economic
diplomacy
remains
the
backbone
of
Zimbabwe’s
foreign
policy,
with
trade
deliberately
placed
at
its
centre.
“That
is
why
the
Ministry
of
Foreign
Affairs
and
International
Trade
was
deliberately
configured
to
put
trade
at
the
centre,”
he
said.
“Our
foreign
policy
advocates
peaceful
coexistence,
and
trade
is
the
instrument
that
makes
that
possible.”
He
added
that
Zimbabwe
supports
reforms
to
the
global
trading
system
under
the
World
Trade
Organization,
arguing
that
fair
and
inclusive
trade
is
essential
for
global
peace
and
shared
prosperity.
Davos
also
provided
a
platform
for
advancing
Africa’s
interests,
particularly
through
the
African
Continental
Free
Trade
Area
(AfCFTA),
which
Zimbabwe
views
as
key
to
industrialisation
and
boosting
intra-African
trade.
For
the
first
time,
Zimbabwe
participated
in
discussions
on
energy
diversification,
including
nuclear
energy
as
a
clean
and
reliable
option
to
support
Africa’s
long-term
development
agenda
under
Agenda
2063.
“Technology,
trade,
energy
and
geopolitics
are
interconnected,”
Prof
Murwira
said.
“The
geopolitical
landscape
is
where
economics,
peace,
development
and
the
future
of
humanity
are
negotiated.”
He
said
implementation
remains
the
most
important
issue,
noting
that
Zimbabwe’s
engagement
at
Davos
supports
the
country’s
Open
for
Business
policy
and
its
doctrine
of
being
a
friend
to
all
and
an
enemy
to
none.
Prof
Murwira
also
emphasised
the
importance
of
international
cooperation
in
education,
science,
innovation,
technology
and
culture,
saying
these
areas
will
help
Zimbabwe
transform
its
mineral
wealth
into
sustainable
prosperity.
“Our
goal
is
simple,”
he
said.
“To
bring
dignity,
integrity
and
prosperity
to
the
people
of
Zimbabwe
through
peaceful
engagement
with
the
world.”
The
World
Economic
Forum
in
Davos
brought
together
about
3,000
political
and
business
leaders
from
more
than
130
countries
to
deliberate
on
geopolitics,
technology,
trade
and
other
global
issues,
at
a
time
widely
described
as
pivotal
for
global
cooperation.