Member of Estonian Parliament Eerik-Niiles Kross met on 9-11 May 2018 with the Zimbabwean Minister for Foreign Affairs Sibusiso Moyo, the Permanent Secretary of the ICT Ministry Samuel Kundishora and the Clerk of the Zimbabwean Parliament Kennedy Mugove Chokuda.
The Estonian delegation also met with the Head of the European Union Delegation to Zimbabwe Philippe Van Damme and participated in the Europe Day reception in Zimbabwe.
The delegation also met with companies representing Zimbabwe’s ICT and e-government sectors.
The visit marked Estonia’s first ever official visit to Zimbabwe.
The Estonian delegation was led by Eerik Niles Kross, Special Envoy of the President of the Republic of Estonia and Member of Parliament. The delegation included Daniel Schaer, Ambassador-at-Large and Special Diplomatic Representative of the President of the Republic of Estonia and Kaisa Mitt-Alvarez, counsellor, UN Security Council Task Force of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Zimbabwean Foreign Minister and other Zimbabwean interlocutors gave an overview of the current situation in Zimbabwe and possibilities for cooperation. The Zimbabwean side was especially interested in Estonia’s experience in developing the “e-state”. Other topics discussed included possibilities for enhancing inter-parliamentary relations and cooperation on ICT issues.
The Estonian Delegation introduced Estonia’s campaign to become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2020-2021. Zimbabwe’s representatives welcomed the Estonian messages and noted that Estonia as a first-time candidate, a small state and an e-state, would have a lot to offer in the UN Security Council.