SA seeks to strengthen ties with Zimbabwe

SOUTH Africa will seek to strengthen bilateral ties with Zimbabwe during President Robert Mugabe’s State visit, International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane said yesterday.

Addressing reporters shortly after Mugabe’s Air Zimbabwe Boeing 767 landed at the Waterkloof Air Force Base in Pretoria, Nkoana-Mashabane said numerous topics would be discussed.

“There are no political issues that we have to resolve. President Jacob Zuma was the facilitator for the resolution of political challenges in Zimbabwe. That was successfully concluded. There is a government running that country now. They have conducted very peaceful elections and we are moving forward with the Zimbabwean government. We have never had any tiff.”

Asked whether the influx of Zimbabweans into South Africa would be on the South African president’s agenda, Nkoana- Mashabane responded: “I come from Limpopo and we have always had Zimbabwean citizens since mining started in South Africa more than 100 years ago. We will always have interaction of our people. In fact, the borders we have today found the people interacting,” she said.

Nkoana- Mashabane said Mugabe’s trip was historic because Pretoria and Harare would be endorsing the signing of a bi-national commission. “This bi-national commission is the highest level of co-ordination. It is a mechanism that co-ordinates our bi-lateral relations at the highest level”

Mugabe and Zuma would now co-chair meetings of the bi-national commission annually.

“We will be witnessing the launch of the commission. It will focus on strengthening the already strong and historic bilateral ties,” said Nkoana-Mashabane.

Mugabe was received at the military base by senior government officials including Nkoana -Mashabane and Zimbabwean Foreign Affairs Minister Simba Mumbengegwi.

The leader was welcomed at the Union Buildings in Pretoria by Zuma yesterday morning.

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa was scheduled to pay a courtesy call at Mugabe’s Pretoria hotel late yesterday.

PRETORIA AND HARARE WILL ENDORSE THE SIGNING OF A BI-NATIONAL COMMISSION