Mugabe ends state visit to SA

President Robert Mugabe's two-day state visit to South Africa, his first since 1994, ends on Thursday with meetings between the countries' business delegations, News24 reported.

The South Africa-Zimbabwe business forum was part of what International Relations and Co-operation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane had called an effort to consolidate bilateral ties and to help Zimbabwe's effort to industrialise.

Zimbabwe is among the top three of South Africa's trading partners on the continent. South Africa was one of the top investors in the Zimbabwean economy.

"This state visit will certainly advance relations between South Africa and Zimbabwe to a higher level of benefit to the people of both countries," Zuma told reporters in Pretoria on Wednesday.

Zimbabwe was one of South Africa's three main trading partners and opportunities existed in mining, transport, infrastructure and information communications and technology, according to Zuma.

He said he discussed regional issues, peace and security, with Mugabe, who is the chairperson of both the African Union and Southern African Development Community.