Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma is to strengthen ties with the neighbouring Botswana and Namibia as he begins his working visits to these two countries today.
Zuma and his delegation will be in Botswana later this morning and in Namibia on Thursday, where he will take advantage of the visit to hold bilateral consultations with Botswana President Ian Khama and Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba on a variety of multilateral issues. South Africa maintains strong relations with the two countries.
According to Zuma's office, the visits take place within the context of promoting the African Agenda and are aimed at strengthening relations between South Africa and the two countries.
Given their small domestic market but favourable location and superb transport and communications base, Namibia and Botswana are regarded as among the leading advocates of regional economic integration.
In addition to their membership in the Southern African Development Community, the two countries presently belong to the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu), with South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland and other partners. Within Sacu, no tariffs exist on goods produced in and moving among the member countries.
