Online Reporter
Farirai Machivenyika
Senior Reporter
AHEAD of the SADC Anti-Sanctions Day commemorations next month, Zambia has called for the total removal of the illegal measures against Zimbabwe.
The call was made by Zambia’s Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Ms Etambuyu Gundersen, yesterday in opening remarks read on her behalf at the official opening of the Mid-Term Review (MTR) of the 18th Session of the Zimbabwe and Zambia Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation that began in Harare and will run until tomorrow.
SADC proclaimed October 25 of each year as a day of action against sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe, at its Summit of Heads of State and Government in Tanzania in 2019.
While the EU has removed most of its sanctions on Zimbabwe, the US has maintained its measures on President Mnangagwa, First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa and nine other individuals and three entities.
“In the same spirit, I wish to reiterate Zambia’s principled support for the lifting of all unilateral sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe, which continue to undermine the country’s economic recovery and regional development cooperation.
“Zambia joins the rest of the region in calling for their immediate removal through peaceful and constructive engagement,” she said.
Ms Gundersen said the MTR provided the two countries an opportunity to review the progress made in the implementation of agreed Memoranda of Understanding and the challenges being faced in bringing them to fruition.
“While notable progress has been recorded in some areas, it is important to acknowledge the slow pace in finalising several key Memoranda of Understanding and agreements, including those on Immigration, SME Development, Environment and Tourism, and Diplomatic Training.
“These instruments are critical to deepening our co-operation, and I urge all stakeholders to prioritise their finalisation.
“Our hope is that the MTR will re-energise implementation efforts so that these instruments can be ready for signing in the near future,” she said.
Ms Gundersen said the bilateral cooperation continues to expand in areas such as trade, border management, energy, infrastructure, education and transboundary security.
“The proposed establishment of the Zambia–Zimbabwe Joint Industrial Park under the COMESA framework is a major step forward in our industrialisation and regional integration agenda,” she said.
On the peace and security front, Ms Gundersen said Zambia remains committed to collaborating with Zimbabwe and other SADC member States to address regional threats in Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo, among others.
“We also reaffirm our shared commitment to multilateralism, and the need for reform of global governance institutions to better reflect African representation and voice,” she said.
In his remarks, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Ambassador Albert Chimbindi, welcomed the progress made in areas that include defence, trade and tourism.
He said the sub-committee on Defence and Security successfully convened the 34th Session of the Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security in February that has resulted in the promotion of closer cooperation between the two countries’ security forces, through the harmonisation of defence and security policies and the activation of joint operations.
“The working relationship between ZimTrade and its Zambian counterpart, Zambian Development Agency (ZDA) is commendable, as illustrated by the visit by ZimTrade to Zambia to identify land for the construction of a warehouse in Kasumbalesa.
“This project will give both countries an opportunity to increase trade in their local products, particularly of fast-moving consumer goods and agricultural equipment, among others,” said Ambassador Chimbindi.
“I am delighted to note that under the tourism cluster, our two parties have made progress in the implementation of the MoU on Tourism Cooperation and convened the Joint Tourism Technical Committee Meeting in Kariba from 25 to 27 February 2025.
“It is worth noting that the two countries have been participating in each other’s tourism exhibitions.”
Ambassador Chimbindi said there was scope for improvement of cooperation in the agricultural sector since both economies were agro-based.
“This MTR affords us a valuable opportunity to review and evaluate our work in order to forge greater coherence and provide direction to further enhance the full and effective implementation of our joint decisions and programmes.
“During this two-day session, our deliberations will reflect on areas of cooperation of mutual benefit and interest, as well as issues of trade and other engagements between our two countries,” he said.
The MTR is also a preparatory meeting of the inaugural Bi-National Commission to be held in Lusaka, Zambia next year.
