Zim, SA defence chiefs meet in Bulawayo

Prosper Ndlovu Senior Reporter
THE 8th Session of the Zimbabwe-South Africa Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security kicks off in Bulawayo today with delegates expected to deliberate on key security issues affecting the two neighbouring countries.
The delegates, who include ministers and heads of different security departments in Zimbabwe and South Africa, arrived in the City of Kings yesterday ahead of the meeting which will be held at a city hotel.

Among them are senior officials from the Zimbabwe National Army, Zimbabwe Republic Police, Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services, Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, Immigration and the Central Intelligence Organisation.

Ministers of Defence, Cde Sydney Sekeramayi, Home Affairs Cde Kembo Mohadi and Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa, are expected to attend the three-day meeting.

According to the programme, there would be an official plenary opening session by heads of departments from both countries today at 8.30am, which would be followed by a series of closed door meetings.

On Thursday, there will be a ministerial official opening and closed deliberations leading to the conclusion of the meeting.

The meeting comes at a time when there are security concerns in the neighbouring Mozambique where Renamo rebel leader Alfonso Dhlakama is threatening peace and security in the region.

Dhlakama is hiding in the bush and has been engaged in isolated attacks with the Mozambican military, in a move that has been condemned by African heads of state.

Zimbabwe and South Africa share cordial bilateral relations that are cemented by the common political, military and historic ties dating back to the pre-colonial area, the liberation struggle and post independence.

South Africa is Zimbabwe’s biggest trading partner, with trade between the two countries running to billions of rand each year.
Other agreements between the two countries include the Search and Rescue Agreement, which facilitates co-operation in the event of flight disasters and the ratification of the Limpopo River Basin Agreement.