South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will arrive in
Harare tomorrow for the third session of the Zimbabwe-South Africa Bi-National
Commission (BNC) that is expected to deepen bilateral relations and broaden
mutually beneficial areas of cooperation.
The BNC’s Heads of State Summit, which will be graced by
President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his SA counterpart, takes place on Tuesday.
The Sunday Mail understands that six South African
ministers – Lindiwe Sisulu (International Relations and Cooperation), Nosiviwe
Mapisa Nqakula (Defence and Military Veterans), Rob Davis (Trade and Industry),
Siyabonga Cwele (Home Affairs), Blade Nzimande (Transport) and Bogopane Zulu
(Deputy Minister for Social Development) – will jet in today.
Other ministers are, however, expected to travel to Harare
with President Ramaphosa. Zimbabwe is South Africa’s biggest trading partner.
President Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Ms Khusela Diko
confirmed his itinerary yesterday and emphasised the extent of the economic
relations between the two countries.
“Trade cooperation between the two countries is at a high
level to the extent that South African exports to Zimbabwe in 2018, amounted to
approximately R30,8 billion (about US$2,1 billion), while imports from Zimbabwe
amounted to approximately R3,6 billion (US$250 million), thus placing Zimbabwe
among South Africa’s top trading partners on the continent.
“South Africa and Zimbabwe have good bilateral political,
economic and social relations underpinned by strong historical ties dating back
from the years of the liberation struggle,” she said.
Several agreements covering political, economic, social and
cultural relations will be signed this week.
There are expectations the upgrade of Beitbridge Border
Post and the revival of the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) will get fresh
impetus through bilateral engagements between the two sister republics.
Senior officials from the two countries concluded their
two-day marathon discussions on Friday, paving the way for the ministerial
session.
During a meeting of senior officials from the two countries
on Thursday, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Foreign and International
Trade Ambassador James Manzou said the BNC would commit the two countries to
urgently implement the 45 agreements that have been signed in the previous
bilateral engagements.
“The success of our cooperation will not be measured by the
number of agreements we sign or the number of decisions that we take. It will
be measured by the action we take and the concrete results that can be
attributed to it. This means implementation of those agreements and decisions,”
he said.
In his remarks at the same occasion, SA’s director-general
in the department of International Relations and Cooperation Mr Kgabo Mahoai
said the BNC should bring tangible and mutual benefits for people from the two
countries. Sunday Mail
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