Paul Nyathi|President Emmerson Mnangagwa is expected to attend Uganda’s 57th Independence celebrations to be held in Sironko District in eastern Uganda.

Ugandan minister for Presidency, Ms Esther Mbayo said Tuesday that President Museveni had invited Mnangagwa as a special guest at the celebrations slated for October 9.

According to her, the theme for this year’s celebrations is ‘Consolidation of National Unity, Security, Freedom and Prosperity.

“The President of Uganda, Gen Yoweri Kaguta Museveni will be the chief guest and he has invited another special guest His Excellence Emmerson Mnangagwa, the President of Zimbabwe to grace the occasion,” she said. 

During his two-day visit to Zimbabwe in April this year, Museveni said Uganda and the southern Africa country should emphasize economic cooperation through market integration to enable their people stand on their own feet.

“We should emphasize economic cooperation. We should enable our people to stand on their own feet. One of the 10 strategic bottlenecks is market integration. Zimbabwe and Southern Africa at large have got a good potential to trade with East Africa and empower our people economically,” he said.

Museveni then noted that that the standard gauge railway would work as a stimulus to promote trade between East Africa and Southern Africa.

Mnangagwa said Museveni’s visit reaffirmed the fraternal bond between the two countries.

“We are rejuvenating our country and our target is to revive our national economy. We are working to modernize our infrastructure,” he said before lauding Museveni for his stand to fight for the removal of sanctions imposed on his country.