Online Reporter
Zimbabwe and South Africa are meeting under the Fourth Session of the Zimbabwe-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) meant to further strengthen the two countries’ fraternal relations.
The four-day commission will culminate in a Heads of State Summit between President Mnangagwa and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa tomorrow.
At the conclusion of the summit, the two leaders will witness the signing of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) that will deepen trade and co-operation across key sectors including politics, trade, infrastructure, energy, migration and security. Zimbabwe’s Foreign Affairs and International Trade Permanent Secretary Ambassador Albert Chimbindi said the long standing and strategic relationship between Zimbabwe and SA requires practical approach centred on transformative projects.
Ambassador Chimbindi said South Africa was more than just Zimbabwe’s neighbour in terms of the way geography has placed the two countries.
“South Africa is our biggest trading partner with a lot of our nationals in that country hence our destinies are inseparable,” he said.
Ambassador Chimbindi said the two countries share common values, cultural ties and development challenges.
He said the two countries had agreed to concentrate on fewer but high impact priority projects that will further strengthen both relationship and trade.
Ambassador Chimbindi said among the flagship projects being discussed was the proposed construction of a third bridge across the Limpopo River which Zimbabwe wants developed into a one-stop border post to facilitate trade and ease movement of travellers and cargo between the two countries.
He said the project was critical not only for Zimbabwe and South Africa but also the entire Southern African region.
Ambassador Chimbindi said the project dovetails with the broader regional and continental infrastructure programmes being pursued under the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union.
Zimbabwe and South Africa have made a commitment to facilitate seamless movement of people and goods across the two countries’ shared borders hence these proposed projects like the one-stop border post.
It is our hope that citizens from both countries appreciate such efforts meant to improve their livelihoods through increased trade between the two countries leading to growth of economies and job creation.
Zimbabweans and South Africans, we need to emphasise, are one people separated by colonial borders and should therefore work together to overcome challenges impeding their development.
Zimbabwe is on a mission to strengthen its international relations hence its engagement and re-engagement with its neighbours such as South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, Namibia and many others.
It has declared that it is a friend to all and an enemy to none and as such it is seeking engagement even with countries with which it has previously had little or no engagement.
