Online Reporter
Zvamaida Murwira
Senior Reporter
ZIMBABWE and Botswana yesterday signed 10 Memoranda of Agreement in different economic sectors, with President Mnangagwa saying the agreements must serve as instruments for accelerated trade, enhanced investment flows, industrial collaboration and sustainable development.
President Mnangagwa and his Botswana counterpart, Advocate Duma Gideon Boko, presided over the 5th Bi-National Commission between the two countries at State House in Harare.
The commission’s session was preceded by a tete-à-tete meeting between the two leaders, where they exchanged notes on cooperation between the two countries before going into a closed session to deliberate on the BNC, a meeting attended by delegates from the two countries.
The agreements signed include economic, trade and investment promotion, cooperation in the promotion of cooperatives and collaboration in the development of micro, small and medium enterprises.
There was also an agreement on Defence Cooperation and Training Exchange Programme; Police Cooperation in Combating Livestock Theft and Other Cross-Border Crimes; Immigration Cooperation; Prisons and Correctional Services.
Other MoUs cover cooperation and assistance in the field of civil aircraft accident and serious incident investigation; transfer of sentenced persons; and coordination of aeronautical search and rescue services.
The list also includes collaboration in the Museum of African Liberation.
In his closing remarks, President Mnangagwa said the outcomes of the BNC were both instructive and forward-looking as they showed the two countries’ shared resolve to transform the longstanding political relations into a more dynamic, results-driven economic partnership.
“The agreements and Memoranda of Understanding signed today must now serve as instruments for accelerated trade, enhanced investment flows, industrial collaboration and sustainable development. The task before us is clear, we must move with urgency from agreement to implementation,” he said.
President Mnangagwa directed ministries to prioritise the expeditious operationalisation of the Plumtree/Ramokgwebana One-Stop Border Post, supported by modern, efficient and integrated border management systems to facilitate seamless movement of goods and people.
Other areas include the swift finalisation of outstanding legal instruments, including the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement, to create a predictable and competitive investment climate, the decisive removal of non-tariff barriers, particularly those affecting agricultural trade.
This will help unlock the full potential of the two countries’ economies, fast-tracking strategic infrastructure projects, notably railway connectivity and logistics corridors, as enablers of regional value chains and industrialisation.
Other priorities include agricultural cooperation, especially in livestock disease control, agro-processing and food security, as critical pillars of rural transformation and resilience.
“These priorities must be pursued with clear timelines, defined responsibilities and measurable outcomes. The credibility of this Bi-National Commission will be judged not by the number of agreements we sign, but by the speed, quality and impact of their implementation. We must, therefore, institutionalise a culture of delivery,” said President Mnangagwa.
“In this regard, we commit to strengthen monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, with regular progress reviews at both technical and political levels, enhance coordination across our ministries, departments and agencies to eliminate duplication and delays, and establish clear accountability frameworks to ensure that agreed decisions translate into tangible results.”
He said there was a need to leverage the BNC platform to promote joint ventures, facilitate private sector partnerships and expand cross-border investment opportunities, particularly in mining, energy, manufacturing, tourism and infrastructure development.
President Mnangagwa said there was a need for unity between the two countries to remove bottlenecks that could constrain shared progress.
“Zimbabwe stands ready to work closely with Botswana to ensure that the momentum generated during this session is sustained and translated into meaningful outcomes ahead of our next meeting,” he said.
In his address, President Boko said the BNC was a historic milestone that stood as a powerful testament to the resilience, unity and determination of the people of Zimbabwe in their pursuit of freedom, sovereignty and national development.
“I wish to reaffirm the deep-rooted bonds of friendship, solidarity and shared history that unite our two nations. These ties continue to provide a firm foundation upon which we advance our common aspirations for prosperity, stability and sustainable development.
“The Bi-National Commission remains an indispensable institutional mechanism for steering our bilateral relations. It enables us to not only review progress across sectors, but also to identify emerging opportunities for collaboration, as well as to provide strategic direction that ensures our partnership remains dynamic, responsive and mutually beneficial,” he said.
President Boko said through the BNC framework, Zimbabwe and Botswana have achieved commendable progress across a wide spectrum of sectors including health, agriculture, trade and investment, transport and infrastructure, energy, tourism, environmental management as well as defence and security cooperation.
“These efforts are underpinned by a robust architecture of agreements that reflect our mutual trust, shared responsibility and collective commitment to tangible outcomes,” he said.
President Boko commended the Government of Zimbabwe for exemplifying the spirit of good neighbourliness through its timely support to Botswana, particularly in the provision of medical supplies, as well as joint efforts in combating the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease along the two countries’ shared border.
“These instances underscore that our cooperation is not merely conceptual, but practical and impactful, directly improving the livelihoods of our peoples. Trade and economic cooperation remain central pillars of our bilateral cooperation. The existing Bilateral Trade Agreement, provides for preferential and duty-free access continues to facilitate increased commercial exchanges between our two countries,” he said.
President Boko said it was encouraging that there was growing interest from the private sector in both countries to expand investment activities.
“Institutions such as the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC) are actively facilitating investment in key sectors, including mineral processing, agro-processing, dairy and poultry production and horticulture.
“Furthermore, Botswana’s participation in the ongoing Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) and the Botswana-Zimbabwe Business [Forum] reflects our shared commitment to deepening economic integration,” he said.
The BNC was attended by Cabinet ministers from both countries and senior Government officials.
President Boko is today expected to officially open the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo.
