IRAN AND ZIMBABWE COMMITS TO EXPAND RELATIONS
The Islamic Republic of Iran and Zimbabwe have both committed themselves to strengthening and deepening the existing cultural relations between the two brotherly nations.
The Islamic Republic of Iran and Zimbabwe have both committed themselves to strengthening and deepening the existing cultural relations between the two brotherly nations. Both countries feel that the absence of a non-binding Cultural Agreement is proving to be the impediment that is suffocating the relations between the two countries.
Zimbabwe and Iran feel that once the Cultural Agreement between the two countries is formalized through the signing of the long-awaited Memorandum of Understanding, then relations will enter into a new era where new cultural products will define the future direction of the Zimbabwe - Iran cultural relations. Both countries are satisfied with the direction that the relations are taking.
In his first visit to the Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture headquarters in Harare for a meeting with Mr. Nicholas Moyo, the new Permanent Secretary for the Ministry, the Cultural Counselor at the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Zimbabwe, Mr. Hamid Bakhtiyar today (19 December 2023) said he saw the new MoU opening new doors for deeper cooperation between Zimbabwe and Iran.
Mr Bakhtiyar set the ball rolling by congratulating Mr Moyo on his appointment as the Administrative Head of the Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture. Mr Moyo was appointed into his new position by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in October 2023.
The Cultural Counsellor briefed Mr Moyo on the Fajr International Film Festival that would be held in Iran at the beginning of February 2023. He also gave highlights of the growing relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), relations that have seen documentaries on Iran being broadcasted by the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation.
Mr. Bakhtiyar requested Mr. Moyo to be the Guest of Honour during the official opening of the Cultural Week commemorations to be held in early February 2024 in the run-up to the celebrations commemorating the success of the Islamic Revolution that ushered in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Mr. Bakhtiyar informed Mr. Moyo that a film festival would also be held as part of the Cultural Week commemorations. The Cultural Counsellor said for Zimbabwe to fully tap and benefit from the Iranian film Industry, there was a need for Zimbabwe and Iran to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the film industry as a matter of urgency.
He said it is through this MoU that Iran can send highly qualified and experienced filmmakers to visit Zimbabwe and impart their skills to the Zimbabwean film industry players.
Mr Bakhtiyar then sought answers on the status of the Memorandum of Understanding between Iran and Zimbabwe that was agreed upon by the two countries.
In his welcome remarks, Mr. Moyo assured Mr. Bakhtiyar that his Ministry was working flat out towards the formalization of the MoU into a real Agreement that would be urgently implemented for the full realization and growth of the relations between the two countries.
He said his ministry is now awaiting the MoU to undergo the legal and administrative processes by the government of Zimbabwe before it is availed to both countries for signing.
He said Zimbabwe, now and going forward, is preparing to have beneficial and all-encompassing relations with Iran that would be underpinned by deep cooperation in the field of film production. The drive to have relations underpinned by the film industry is underwritten by the fact that Iran is a powerhouse in the global film industry and Zimbabwe stands to gain more from this field. He said Iran’s film industry is so rich that Zimbabwe will benefit from Iran’s expertise in this field.
Mr Moyo said he wants the Zimbabwe film industry to strongly tap into the Iranian film industry and as such saw the MoU on film cooperation proposed by Mr Bakhtiyar as the key that will lock the value of this great Iranian industry. He said Zimbabwe would send its film industry players to Iran to enable them to tap into the deep Iranian experience.
Mr Moyo said Zimbabwe wants to benefit from Iran’s expertise in the Arts industry in general, as well as in sports sciences and administration. Zimbabwe also wants to cooperate with Iran in the field of Fashion.
