Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa has heaped praise on President William Ruto over his stance on sanctions imposed on African countries.
Speaking when he hosted Ruto and First Lady Rachel for dinner at State House Bulawayo in Zimbabwe on Friday, Mnangagwa said that he is proud of Ruto's stand on the sanctions.
He noted that very few leaders can do that, saying that when leaders get a chance to speak at the United Nations, they only say what they think needs to be said and others say the problems they face.
For the Kenyan President, however, Mnangagwa said that he spoke to the world when he called for the lifting of sanctions on Zimbabwe.
"We also applaud your stand regionally, continentally and internationally where you have publicly denounced sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe. We are proud," the Zimbabwean President said.
He went on to say that Ruto's remarks are an assurance that Zimbabwe has a friend in Kenya.
"Indeed my dear brother, my dear countrymen and women, we have a friend in Kenya. Kenya is our friend."
Ruto arrived in Zimbabwe on Friday and was received by his counterpart Mnangagwa.
Ruto will be the chief guest at the 64th Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo.
The President's tour of Zimbabwe is aimed at bolstering political, economic, and socio-cultural ties between the two countries.
Ruto will emphasise the significance of international trade fairs and forums as catalysts for economic development, industrial growth, global linkages and job creation.
He is also expected to sign seven bilateral cooperation instruments in health, defence, investment, education, transport and capacity building in public service during the visit.
In talks with President Mnangagwa, Ruto will express the need for closer air connectivity between the two countries in the spirit of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Tripartite Alliance Free Trade Area.
The visit elevates the existing strong bilateral relations between the two countries by upgrading the current Joint Permanent Commission for Cooperation at the ministerial level to a Bi-National Commission at the Heads of State level.