SA, Zim eye stronger economic ties

ZIMBABWE and South Africa should concentrate on strengthening their economies for the benefit of the two countries and the SADC region as a whole.

This was said by South African Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Mphakama Mbete after paying a courtesy call on Vice President Kembo Mohadi at his Munhumutapa offices on Wednesday.

In an interview, Mr Mbete said SADC also played a crucial role in speeding up economic development on the continent.

“We spoke about the importance of business and trade relations for both our countries,” he said. “We got the political freedom, now the task is to build our economies and to do this in the context of SADC and the African Union.

“I believe that SADC is very key for catapulting Africa to a higher trajectory in terms of economic development.”

The relationship between Zimbabwe and South Africa, said Mr Mbete, was going to flourish, especially under the new political dispensations in both countries.

“The relationship between Zimbabwe and South Africa is set to flower,” he said.

“These are two dynamic leaders who need to meet and work out on how they are going to catapult the relationship to a higher level.

“We are very excited with the developments in Zimbabwe and we are also excited with our own developments. There is a new political dispensation in Zimbabwe and to fully understand that dispensation it becomes important to talk to the top leadership of Zimbabwe.

“I came to pay a courtesy call on Vice President Mohadi and to formally congratulate him on his appointment and to begin to sketch out some of the key areas in which I believe the two countries should collaborate.”

Mr Mbete said Zimbabwe and South Africa had an important platform and institutional framework for cooperation - the Zimbabwe-South Africa Bi-National Commission.

“So, I came to emphasise the importance of both countries through our presidents to prepare thoroughly for the Bi-National Commission, which is held annually,” he said.

“We just brainstormed on the importance of that.”

The meeting also noted the importance of shared infrastructure in the region and beyond. VP Mohadi said Zimbabwe and South Africa had a very important relationship, which predates the countries’ independence.

He emphasised the need for the two countries to work together in politics, trade and business.

“The current leadership in South Africa and ANC and the leadership of Zimbabwe under Zanu-PF have been together before we even got our independence,” he said.

“We operated together in the trenches, we had joint operations here in Zimbabwe because we were fighting a common enemy. Politically, we are both members of SADC and we would like to keep that together; SADC countries united.”

VP Mohadi said SADC, as a regional bloc, was important in assisting member states in areas of conflict and maintenance of peace and order.

“Economically, South Africa and Zimbabwe have been trading for a long time, but the trade has been in favour of South Africa,” he said.

“We import more from South Africa than they import from us because South Africa has a bigger economy. We have a smaller economy, so obviously the bigger economy will have to export more.”

VP Mohadi said with time, it was possible to have a positive trade balance between Zimbabwe and South Africa.

He emphasised on the need to lure South African companies to invest in the country.