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The cordial bilateral relations between Japan and Zimbabwe continue to grow and strengthen. This comes after the successful deployment of two new Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCVs) to Zimbabwe.

The two JOCVs Mr. Yuya Yamaguchi and Mr. Koichiro Hara arrived in Zimbabwe in December 2021. They underwent the required self-quarantine as part of the WHO and the Government of Zimbabwe recommended COVID-19 prevention measures, local language training and orientation before being deployed to their work stations on the 20th of January 2022. As part of protocol, the JOCVs paid courtesy calls to the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development and the Sports and Recreation Commission headquarters respectively. They will be in Zimbabwe for a period of two years.

Mr. Yamaguchi is in the country to offer technical cooperation in the field of Baseball. He will be coaching baseball in Manicaland and will be based in Mutare, where it is anticipated that he will contribute to the development of the sport in the country. He has been involved in the sport back in Japan for the past sixteen years and has pledged to impart his skills to grassroots levels as he will be working with school children. Additionally Mr. Yamaguchi who has worked with the youth in his native country, vowed to work in the development of the youth.

Mr. Yuya Yamaguchi (fourth from left) was welcomed to Mutare by the Manicaland Province Minister of Provincial Affairs Hon. Nokuthula Matsikenyere (first from right) and members of the Manicaland Baseball Association

The other JOCV, Mr. Hara, is now already offering his Information Communication Technology expertise to Morgan Zintech Teachers' College in Harare. He has vast experience in ICT systems infrastructure, administration and architecture and has worked for one of the leading ICT companies in Japan before his deployment to Zimbabwe.

Mr. Koichiro Hara shares ideas with a colleague at Morgan Zintech Teachers' College in Harare

The arrival of the two JOCVs brings the number of JOCVs currently working in Zimbabwe to six, following the departure of six other volunteers in December 2021 who were in the country since 2019. The number is expected to increase during the course of the year with more volunteers expected, an indication of the strong cordial relations the two countries enjoy.