Row with Britain over: Zimbabwean President

HARARE, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said the row between Zimbabwe and former colonizer Britain, which started at the advent of land reforms in 2000, is now over and that his administration seeks to build bridges with all nations.

Addressing a gathering of church pilgrims in Madziwa, Mashonaland Central Province on Wednesday, Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe could not continue to be isolated from the global community and was currently engaged in efforts to mend relations with erstwhile enemies.

"We have opened our doors to old and new friends. We cannot continue living in isolation. We need foreign investment, as well as those countries' technical expertise," The Herald quoted him as saying Thursday.

Zimbabwe and Britain fell out after war veterans invaded land owned by white farmers and parcelled it out to themselves with government support.

A number of white farmers died during the period, resulting in Britain and her allies in the European Union slapping sanctions on the country. The Commonwealth also suspended the country, leading then president Robert Mugabe to withdraw membership from the grouping.

Since his inauguration as president last November, Mnangagwa has been calling for the mending of ties between Zimbabwe and countries in the West. Enditem