Blessing Chizhande
Nduduzo Tshuma in Pretoria, South Africa
ZIMBABWE and South Africa yesterday signed six agreements aimed at deepening cooperation across key sectors, as the two neighbouring countries reaffirmed their commitment to translating their historic bonds into practical development outcomes and a stronger partnership.
The agreements, signed during the Heads of State Summit of the Fourth Session of the Zimbabwe-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Pretoria, covered diplomacy, correctional services, agriculture, arts and heritage, women’s empowerment and gender equality, while also strengthening the institutional framework governing the BNC.
Presidents Mnangagwa and Cyril Ramaphosa used the summit to underline the importance of implementation, with the former reaffirming Zimbabwe’s commitment to working closely with South Africa at bilateral, regional, continental and international levels to advance their shared goals and aspirations.
He said the historic relationship between the two countries should be translated into stronger economic cooperation, industrial development and tangible benefits for their peoples.
“I reaffirm that my administration remains dedicated to work closely with South Africa at the bilateral, regional, continental and international levels to advance our shared goals and aspirations,” President Mnangagwa said.
The President said the relationship between Zimbabwe and South Africa was anchored in shared ancestry, cultural ties and a common history of resistance to colonialism and apartheid.
He said the two countries also shared aspirations for more prosperous economies and improved quality of life, making closer cooperation imperative in responding to contemporary challenges.
“Beyond the geographic border between us, Zimbabwe and South Africa are one people, with a common past and inextricably linked destinies,” he said.
The six instruments signed during the summit included a MoU on collaboration between the Zimbabwe Foreign Services Institute and the Diplomatic Academy of the South African
Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) signed by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Professor Amon Murwira and his counterpart Ronald Lamola.
They also signed the Rules of Procedure governing meetings of the Zimbabwe-South Africa BNC.
Professor Murwira further signed an MoU on cooperation in agriculture with South African Agriculture Minister Willem Aucamp and another on cooperation in arts, culture and heritage with South African Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie.
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi and South African Minister of Correctional Services Dr Pieter Groenewald signed an MoU on cooperation in correctional services.
Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Minister Monica Mutsvangwa and South African Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni signed an MoU on bilateral cooperation in women’s empowerment and gender equality.
The six agreements broaden the scope of the BNC beyond political and diplomatic engagement, creating frameworks for cooperation in areas with direct implications for economic development, institutional capacity, social empowerment and people-to-people relations.
Both leaders stressed that the BNC should now move beyond agreements and declarations to sustained implementation.
President Mnangagwa called for full use of the BNC’s Decision Management System to monitor implementation of decisions and identify areas requiring corrective action.
He also expressed gratitude for South Africa’s support for Zimbabwe’s election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and reaffirmed Harare’s commitment to advancing international peace and security.
The President paid tribute to South Africa for its consistent advocacy for the unconditional removal of sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe.
President Ramaphosa said the agreements and decisions reached during the summit reflected concrete plans to deepen cooperation, but stressed that implementation would determine whether the commitments produced meaningful results.
“The agreements and Memoranda of Understanding signed in our presence today, together with the decisions reached, reflect our concrete plans to deepen cooperation,” he said.
“These instruments must now be implemented so that our countries and peoples benefit.”
President Ramaphosa reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to working with Zimbabwe on peace and security issues, including developments in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Madagascar.
He also reiterated South Africa’s support for efforts towards the lifting of sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe and the development of economies capable of sustaining livelihoods.
“As we prepare for the Fifth Session of our Bi-National Commission, let us turn our decisions into actions. Let us turn our people’s expectations into reality,” President Ramaphosa said.
Online Reporter