Online Reporter
Nduduzo Tshuma in Pretoria, South Africa
THE Fourth Session of the Zimbabwe-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) got underway here on Tuesday with senior government officials meeting ahead of a series of engagements that will culminate in a summit between President Mnangagwa and his South African counterpart, President Cyril Ramaphosa, on Friday.
The four-day programme began with meetings of senior officials from the two countries, who are expected to deliberate on a wide range of political, diplomatic, economic, social, defence and security issues.
The senior officials’ session is co-chaired by South Africa’s Deputy Director-General in the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, Ambassador Tebogo Seokolo and Zimbabwe’s Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Ambassador Albert Chimbindi.
During the meetings, officials will consider reports from various committees and review progress on the implementation of decisions taken during previous BNC sessions. They are also expected to discuss bilateral, regional, continental and global issues of mutual interest.
The engagements will pave the way for the Council of Ministers meeting on Thursday, which will be led by South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola and Zimbabwe’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Professor Amon Murwira.
The ministers are expected to receive reports from the committees and finalise the agreed minutes and other documents ahead of the summit-level discussions.
The BNC will culminate on Friday with a Heads of State summit, during which Presidents Mnangagwa and Ramaphosa will hold bilateral talks and review recommendations from the ministerial session.
The two leaders are expected to adopt the agreed minutes, witness the signing of memoranda of understanding and other agreements and issue a joint communiqué outlining key outcomes of the commission.
A South Africa-Zimbabwe Business Forum is also scheduled to be held on the sidelines of the BNC, highlighting efforts by the two countries to strengthen trade, investment and economic cooperation.
The BNC is the highest structured mechanism for bilateral cooperation between Zimbabwe and South Africa serving as a platform for deepening relations across a broad range of sectors.
