Cuba and Zimbabwe to Hold Official Talks

[XXPANTHAXX]

Cuba and Zimbabwe to Hold Official Talks

Havana, Sept 13 (AIN)--At the invitation of President Fidel
Castro, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe is currently
visiting Cuba accompanied by his wife Grace Mugabe and a
large delegation made up by Zimbabwe's Foreign Minister S.
Mumbengengwi and other top government officials.

Mugabe, who arrived in Havana Saturday, is already carrying
out a very busy working agenda which will include with
meetings with senior level Cuban officials, including
President Castro.

This is the ninth visit to the island by the southern African
head of state since 1978, when he attended the 11th World
Youth Festival. President Mugabe also traveled to Cuba in
April 2000 and in 2003 heading delegations present at
international events held in Havana. In addition President
Mugabe made official visits to the island in 1985, 1992, 1999
and 2002.

Mugabe was elected Prime Minister in 1980. In 1985 he was
popularly elected as president of Zimbabwe and in March 2002
was reelected for another six-year term.

The African president chaired the Non-Aligned Movement from
1986 to 1989 and has received several doctorates from the
universities of Nigeria, Georgia, Zimbabwe, Edinburgh, North
Caroline, Massachusetts and Moscow.

Cuba and Zimbabwe established diplomatic relationships on
April 20, 1980. Between 1961 and 2004, over 3,000 Zimbabwean
students have graduated from university studies in Cuba.
Presently, 173 Cuban physicians are serving in Zimbabwe.