For years, former President Robert Mugabe railed against Britain and its political leaders as they opposed his land reforms, his persecution of white farmers and his management of Zimbabwe's economy.

In 1997, Tony Blair's government pulled out of talks to fund Mr Mugabe's land reforms and Mr Mugabe accused the British of meddling in his country's affairs by funding his political opponents.

Britain began to withdraw development aid and sanctions were imposed on the president and his inner circle. Mr Mnangagwa, who has been president since November, said at a rally yesterday that this era is finished: Our quarrel with Britain is over.

It was hinged on the land reform. We distributed our own land here. The land did not belong to the British, but to us Zimbabweans." He said that relations with Britain are tangibly better:

So far, I have received three envoys from Britain."

He also made clear what motivated him to work on this relationship: We cannot continue living in isolation.

We need foreign investment, as well as those countries’ technical expertise."