Online Reporter
Wallace Ruzvidzo, Zimpapers Reporter
SOUTH AFRICA’S ruling African National Congress (ANC) has praised Zimbabwe’s development strides and reaffirmed commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation, ANC Treasurer-General Dr Gwen Ramokgopa said yesterday after meeting President Mnangagwa at State House in Harare.
She said the two countries continue to collaborate across government and party structures to advance shared goals of economic growth and regional integration.
Speaking to the media following her closed-door meeting with the President, she said the two neighbouring countries enjoy enduring fraternal relations rooted in their shared liberation history, and continue to exchange knowledge across various sectors.
“We have very strong fraternal relations, historically forged in the struggle for freedom of the two countries. Indeed, we continue exchanging ideas on a number of areas — at the State level, Government-to-Government levels, and also at party-to-party level. So, the two countries can definitely learn from each other,” said Dr Ramokgopa.
She acknowledged that while both nations face development challenges, Zimbabwe has made notable progress in certain areas, particularly infrastructure.
“As I was flying over the Limpopo River, I could see that on the South African side of the border post, we still have a lot of infrastructure work to do, whereas Zimbabwe is quite ahead. So, we are inspired,” she said.
Dr Ramokgopa emphasised the importance of collaboration among liberation movements across Africa, encouraging citizens to actively contribute to the continent’s development.
“We are not yet where we want to be. We need to collaborate with many fraternal organisations and friends,” she said.
Turning to the main purpose of her visit, Dr Ramokgopa said she was in Zimbabwe to meet Zanu-PF Treasurer-General Cde Patrick Chinamasa to explore ways of mobilising progressive businesses to support party initiatives in both countries.
“I am now en route to meet my counterpart to discuss details. I am here to meet with the Zanu-PF, our counterpart in the African National Congress (ANC) . . . so I feel at home, and I look forward to very positive deliberations with my counterpart. Indeed, it was a very positive, courteous visit to His Excellency,” said Dr Ramokgopa.
A medical doctor and academic by profession, Dr Ramokgopa also reflected on Zimbabwe’s post-independence healthcare system, which she said had inspired her early in her career.
“As a health professional myself, when I was a young student, I was inspired by the strong public health system, especially the primary health care system that Zimbabwe built post-liberation. And I have made a commitment also to continue collaborations around that, so that health becomes one of the key deliverables of our (ANC) term and our contemporary priorities,” she said.
Zimbabwe and South Africa maintain long-standing diplomatic, economic and historical ties, with regular engagements between their governments and ruling parties aimed at deepening regional integration.
