President Zuma to visit Zimbabwe

Monday, October 31, 2016

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma will this week visit Zimbabwe to cement relations between South Africa and Zimbabwe.

The Presidency on Monday said the President will be attending the inaugural session of the South Africa-Zimbabwe Bi-National Commission, which is scheduled for 3 November.

South Africa and Zimbabwe have good bilateral political, economic and social relations that are underpinned by strong historical ties dating back from the years of the liberation struggle.

The two countries, the Presidency said, will conduct their bilateral relations through a structured Bi-National Commission (BNC) signed in 2015 during President Robert Mugabe’s State visit to South Africa.

“To date, the two countries have signed more than 38 memoranda of understanding and agreements, which were coordinated through the then Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC) and the Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security (JPCDS), which were established in 1995 and 2005 respectively.

“The MoUs and agreements cover a broad range of areas, which include trade and investment, immigration and consular matters, defence, agriculture, the environment, energy, health, as well as arts and culture.”

South Africa and Zimbabwe not only share strong historical relations but also economic cooperation to the extent that the economies of the two countries are historically and inextricably linked, the high office said.

There are over 120 South African companies doing business in Zimbabwe in various sectors including mining, aviation, tourism, banking, the property, retail, construction and the fast food sectors.

President Zuma will be accompanied by International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane; Defence and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula; Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies; Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba; Transport Minister Dipuo Peters and Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant. - SAnews.gov.za