Tinotenda Hove – PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa returned to Zimbabwe on Friday evening from a three-day State visit to Ghana, but critics are already questioning whether the trip delivered tangible benefits for ordinary citizens.

Despite announcing the signing of 10 Memoranda of Understanding with his Ghanaian counterpart John Mahama, the agreements remain largely symbolic, with little clarity on implementation timelines or measurable outcomes.

Speaking on arrival at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, Mnangagwa appeared to lean heavily on generalities rather than concrete deliverables.

“In particular, in agriculture, they emphasise cooperation in agriculture. I think they’re very good in agriculture. I think our agricultural sector can benefit and perhaps collaborate with their sector. That’s the area they talked about the most,” he said.

However, observers argue that such statements fall short of addressing Zimbabwe’s deep-rooted agricultural challenges, including financing gaps, infrastructure decay, and policy inconsistency. Merely praising Ghana’s agricultural sector without outlining a clear roadmap has been described as “repetitive diplomacy without results.”

Mnangagwa also invoked historical ties, referencing Kwame Nkrumah and Ghana’s role in liberation struggles.

“We are aware that Ghana was one of the first countries to become independent on the African continent… We look at Nkrumah as our liberator, and we continue to regard Ghana as one of the leading African liberators,” he said.

While the historical narrative may resonate symbolically, critics say it does little to address Zimbabwe’s present-day economic hardships, with many questioning whether nostalgia is being used to mask a lack of substantive progress.

The visit, which included a State banquet in Accra, has also drawn scrutiny over costs at a time when Zimbabwe faces mounting economic pressures. Analysts argue that foreign trips must translate into visible improvements at home, something many say remains elusive.

As Mnangagwa’s administration continues to pursue international engagements, the gap between diplomatic rhetoric and lived reality for citizens appears to be widening—raising fresh doubts about the effectiveness of such high-profile visits.