By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to strengthening economic, trade and investment relations with neighbouring Zimbabwe.
Ramaphosa was speaking on Friday at the opening of the fourth session of the South Africa-Zimbabwe Bi-National Commission (BNC) at the OR Tambo Building in Pretoria.
The Fourth Session of the BNC provided an opportunity for the two Heads of State to review progress in implementing existing bilateral commitments and identify opportunities to further strengthen cooperation.
Established in April 2015, the BNC is the central mechanism for managing and advancing strategic partnership between South Africa and Zimbabwe. More than 33 agreements and memoranda of understanding have been concluded between the two countries across various areas of cooperation.
The session culminated in the signing of several agreements and memoranda of understanding aimed at expanding bilateral cooperation in strategic areas.
Ramaphosa said the two countries must use existing bilateral mechanisms and opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to increase trade and address the significant imbalance between the neighbours.
“Zimbabwe is one of our largest trading partners. Over the last four years, the value of our bilateral trade has almost doubled.”
“However, there is a significant imbalance in trade between our two countries. South Africa exports much more to Zimbabwe than it imports,” the President said.
He said the two countries should work together to narrow the trade deficit and expand the production and export of goods manufactured from their natural resources.
“We must use the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area to increase the volume and balance the composition of trade between our two countries,” Ramaphosa said.
The President said the Ministerial report before the BNC would assess progress and identify further opportunities in mining, energy, agriculture, transport, logistics and water management.
He also emphasised the importance of infrastructure investment in supporting economic growth and expanding trade between the two countries.
“We should be working together to build the bridges, roads, dams, airports, health facilities and schools that will drive our economies into the future,” he said.
The President said South Africa and Zimbabwe should deepen cooperation in mining and ensure that their mineral wealth contributes more directly to economic development and job creation.
“Working together, we must convert our abundant mineral resources into jobs, opportunity and prosperity for our people,” he said.
He noted Zimbabwe’s growing production of gold, platinum and critical minerals such as lithium, saying the country was “fast emerging as a global participant”.
Ramaphosa said South Africa was also increasing investment in exploration and beneficiation.
“We have said for many years that our minerals should be processed at home, that we should export finished products. Together, we need to put that aspiration into practice,” he said.
Ramaphosa said there was significant potential for cooperation on water, pointing to the agreement to supply water from Zimbabwe’s Beitbridge Water Works to Musina as an example of how the two countries can work together to meet basic needs and strengthen resilience to climate change.
He also urged greater cooperation on food security and agricultural production.
“We must work together to ensure that all our people have enough food. Let us use our vast arable land for intensified production and support our communal and commercial farmers,” he said.