Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa has accepted an invitation to attend King Charles III’s coronation, which will take place on May 6th at Westminster Abbey in London. The move is seen as a positive step towards improving relations between Zimbabwe and the UK, which have been strained in recent years.
During a meeting with the UK ambassador in Zimbabwe, President Mnangagwa also discussed trade and investment projects, as well as the importance of peaceful and fair elections later this year. The UK’s relationship with Zimbabwe soured following land reforms under former leader Robert Mugabe, and Zimbabwe withdrew from the Commonwealth in 2003.
President Mnangagwa has sought to improve relations with the UK and other critics since coming to power in 2017, and last year a Commonwealth delegation visited Zimbabwe to consider readmission. However, both the US and the EU maintain sanctions against officials and companies in Zimbabwe, including the president.
President Mnangagwa’s attendance at the coronation could signal a new era of cooperation and diplomacy between Zimbabwe and the UK, and may be seen as an opportunity for the two countries to reset their relationship.
Source: BBC