By More Matshediso
Pretoria – The South African and Zimbabwean governments on Wednesday committed to working together to confront the socio-economic challenges facing the neighbouring countries and improving the lives of their citizens.
President Jacob Zuma hosted a state banquet in honour of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and his wife, Grace Mugabe, at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria.
President Mugabe is in South Africa for a two-day State Visit at the request of President Zuma to further bilateral and trade relations.
“Today we recommitted ourselves to working together to increase our bilateral partnership in various fields including political, economic and social cooperation,” said President Zuma.
He said the signing of the agreement establishing a Bi-National Commission (BNC) – which will be chaired by him and President Mugabe - demonstrated the shared desire to elevate relations to a higher, more strategic level.
“Our future interactions and consultations within the framework of the BNC will boost the implementation of all agreements that have been signed by the two countries today and in previous years,” he said.
The BNC agreement was one of five agreements signed at the Union Buildings on Wednesday.
President Zuma envisaged that the business delegation accompanying President Mugabe will on Thursday interact with their South African counterparts in a Business Forum.
He said their interactions will further strengthen economic ties and bring the countries closer to the achievement of growing their respective economies.
“Our message to them is clear. Their investments must lead to job creation. Our people need jobs, they need an improved quality of life,” said President Zuma.
Peace and stability in Africa
President Zuma said Zimbabwe and South Africa needed to consult on a regular basis to advance regional integration and maintenance of peace and security, considering his and President Mugabe’s leadership positions in Southern African Development Community (SADC).
“We reiterate our condemnation in the strongest possible terms of the recent terrorist attacks at the Garissa School College in Kenya, resulting in so many unwarranted deaths and injuries,” he said.
President Zuma conveyed condolences to the government and people of Kenya, in particular to the families of the victims.
He urged President Mugabe, as Chairperson of the African Union, to take a lead in the quest for peace and stability in every corner of Africa.
South Africa will continue to play its role in supporting peacekeeping and peace-making and also the fight against terrorism in Africa.
President Zuma said South Africa looked forward to enhanced engagements and cooperation with Zimbabwe going forward.
President Mugabe said as Zimbabwe and South Africa share experiences, they will be able to adopt strategies that respond adequately to their challenges.
“We want to expand our cooperation for the good of our people. We must engage more effectively in the economic, social and cultural domains, so as to raise our bilateral relations to new levels,” said President Mugabe.
He said the new programmes that will come as a result of the BNC must be implemented timeously and effectively.
South Africa and Zimbabwe share common views of political, economic and security issues affecting them, said President Mugabe, commending South Africa for the prominent role it has played in efforts to resolve various conflicts in Africa and SADC member states.
South Africa has spearheaded efforts to resolve difficulties in the Kingdom of Lesotho as well as in the eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
He said Zimbabwe also recognised South Africa’s mediation efforts in Burundi and in South Sudan and applauded the peacekeeping efforts in the Central African Republic (CAR).
“We hope that your efforts and those of South Africans will be rewarded by lasting solutions to those problems,” he said. - SAnews.gov.za
