News / National
Zimbabwe in watershed deals with Botswana, South Africa
02 Mar 2019 at 20:34hrs | Views
ZIMBABWE and Botswana will establish trade on at least five value chains across the two countries' borders.
Zimbabwe and Botswana last week signed a number of agreements meant to further cement relations between the two countries after a meeting between President Mnangagwa and Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi who was in the country for the inaugural Zimbabwe Botswana Bi-National Commission (BNC).The two countries signed six Memoranda of Understanding spanning political, social and economic fields that will bring the two countries closer.
The MoUs included the Extradition Treaty, Diplomatic Consultations, Rules and Procedures Governing the Meetings of the Bi-National Commission, Mining, Geology and Metallurgy, Co-operation in the Energy Sector and Science and Technology.
In an interview on Friday, Industry and Commerce Minister Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu said as a quick win-win move, the two countries agreed to identify the commodities, which the two countries could trade in.
"We wanted to develop (trade) at least starting with four or five value chains that cut across the two countries' borders. For instance beef to leather, Botswana has a lot of cattle and hides. Botswana can do the first stage of processing and in Bulawayo we do wet bluing of those hides to produce leather products. Again here in Zimbabwe we will be growing vegetables and them (Botswana) doing packaging for onward exports or for consumption. So we want to take this opportunity of our relationship to escalate co-operation especially at private sector capacity," he said.
A business conference between the two countries' private sectors has been arranged to take place during the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair as a way of intensifying synergies.
"We agreed with my counterpart from Botswana that during the Trade Fair we want to have a business forum on the sidelines of the exhibition, a B2B (business to business) whereby the private sector will have talks and seek ways on how they can work together on trade," said Minister Ndlovu.
He said the $600 million lines of credit, which were extended to the country by Botswana, would be channelled towards recapitalisation of strategic entities.
"The capital injection isn't meant for the Government but it's for the private sector to enable them to re-equip because industry has over the years been lamenting antiquated equipment," said Minister Ndlovu.
The local manufacturing sector's capacity utilisation remains below 50 percent owing to a range of factors including the US-imposed economic embargoes and antiquated production equipment. He said BNC meetings whose agreements spanned various areas of co-operation were a clear testimony of President Mnangagwa's efforts of re-engaging the world.
"This is a very good development and it cements what the President said when he was ushered in. He mentioned that he wanted to create new friendships and rejuvenate old relations with other nations, the fruits are beginning to show," said Minister Ndlovu.
Meanwhile, our Harare Bureau reports that a team of senior Government officials from South Africa is expected in Harare this week to knuckle down to business ahead of Cyril Ramaphosa's visit to Harare next week for the third session of the Zimbabwe-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC).
The high-level talks come hot on the heels of last week's successful bilateral engagements with Botswana.
In a statement released to our Harare Bureau, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade said preparatory meetings for the BNC begin on Thursday.
"The Third Session of the Zimbabwe-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) will be held on 12 March 2019 at Meikles Hotel in Harare. The meeting will be headed by the two countries' Heads of State and Government, His Excellency, President ED Mnangagwa, and his South African counterpart, President Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa.
"The BNC is the highest bilateral framework of co-operation between Zimbabwe and South Africa. It will be preceded by a Ministerial Meeting on 11 March 2019, and a Senior Officials meeting on 7 and 8 March 2019," read the statement.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa's administration has heightened diplomatic bilateral and multilateral engagements that are designed to integrate Zimbabwe – which has been isolated for the past two decades – into the global family of nations and unlock the country's economic growth potential.
South Africa is Zimbabwe's largest trading partner. The forthcoming BNC is expected to further strengthen political, economic, social and cultural relations between the neighbouring countries. The meetings will review progress from the last BNC held in South Africa in 2017.
"The main task before this third session of the Zimbabwe-South Africa BNC is to review progress in the implementation of previously agreed projects under the various Memorandum of Understanding already in operation. These cover the political, economic, social and technical sectors of the two countries."
During the last BNC held in Johannesburg, Zimbabwe and South Africa agreed to operationalise the Beitbridge One-Stop Border Post. The two countries agreed that the border had become the busiest port of entry on the continent and as such, there was need to facilitate the smooth flow of business for the benefit of both countries.
Zimbabwe and South Africa also signed five agreements for cross-border trading cooperation, energy, environment, information communication technologies (ICT) and sports and recreation.
Diplomatic sources said last week the engagements might also centre on sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe and possible credit lines from Pretoria. President Ramaphosa has on several occasions called for the unconditional lifting of the sanctions on Zimbabwe, which have had a deleterious impact on the region.
In a statement a fortnight ago, South Africa's International Relations and Cooperation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu said one of the main issues on the agenda for this year's BNC would be sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the West. In January, President Ramaphosa took the campaign against illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he said Harare needs support from the international community to overcome its economic challenges. Last year, President Ramaphosa also called on the European Union to lift sanctions on Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe and Botswana last week signed a number of agreements meant to further cement relations between the two countries after a meeting between President Mnangagwa and Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi who was in the country for the inaugural Zimbabwe Botswana Bi-National Commission (BNC).The two countries signed six Memoranda of Understanding spanning political, social and economic fields that will bring the two countries closer.
The MoUs included the Extradition Treaty, Diplomatic Consultations, Rules and Procedures Governing the Meetings of the Bi-National Commission, Mining, Geology and Metallurgy, Co-operation in the Energy Sector and Science and Technology.
In an interview on Friday, Industry and Commerce Minister Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu said as a quick win-win move, the two countries agreed to identify the commodities, which the two countries could trade in.
"We wanted to develop (trade) at least starting with four or five value chains that cut across the two countries' borders. For instance beef to leather, Botswana has a lot of cattle and hides. Botswana can do the first stage of processing and in Bulawayo we do wet bluing of those hides to produce leather products. Again here in Zimbabwe we will be growing vegetables and them (Botswana) doing packaging for onward exports or for consumption. So we want to take this opportunity of our relationship to escalate co-operation especially at private sector capacity," he said.
A business conference between the two countries' private sectors has been arranged to take place during the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair as a way of intensifying synergies.
"We agreed with my counterpart from Botswana that during the Trade Fair we want to have a business forum on the sidelines of the exhibition, a B2B (business to business) whereby the private sector will have talks and seek ways on how they can work together on trade," said Minister Ndlovu.
He said the $600 million lines of credit, which were extended to the country by Botswana, would be channelled towards recapitalisation of strategic entities.
"The capital injection isn't meant for the Government but it's for the private sector to enable them to re-equip because industry has over the years been lamenting antiquated equipment," said Minister Ndlovu.
The local manufacturing sector's capacity utilisation remains below 50 percent owing to a range of factors including the US-imposed economic embargoes and antiquated production equipment. He said BNC meetings whose agreements spanned various areas of co-operation were a clear testimony of President Mnangagwa's efforts of re-engaging the world.
"This is a very good development and it cements what the President said when he was ushered in. He mentioned that he wanted to create new friendships and rejuvenate old relations with other nations, the fruits are beginning to show," said Minister Ndlovu.
Meanwhile, our Harare Bureau reports that a team of senior Government officials from South Africa is expected in Harare this week to knuckle down to business ahead of Cyril Ramaphosa's visit to Harare next week for the third session of the Zimbabwe-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC).
The high-level talks come hot on the heels of last week's successful bilateral engagements with Botswana.
In a statement released to our Harare Bureau, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade said preparatory meetings for the BNC begin on Thursday.
"The Third Session of the Zimbabwe-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) will be held on 12 March 2019 at Meikles Hotel in Harare. The meeting will be headed by the two countries' Heads of State and Government, His Excellency, President ED Mnangagwa, and his South African counterpart, President Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa.
"The BNC is the highest bilateral framework of co-operation between Zimbabwe and South Africa. It will be preceded by a Ministerial Meeting on 11 March 2019, and a Senior Officials meeting on 7 and 8 March 2019," read the statement.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa's administration has heightened diplomatic bilateral and multilateral engagements that are designed to integrate Zimbabwe – which has been isolated for the past two decades – into the global family of nations and unlock the country's economic growth potential.
South Africa is Zimbabwe's largest trading partner. The forthcoming BNC is expected to further strengthen political, economic, social and cultural relations between the neighbouring countries. The meetings will review progress from the last BNC held in South Africa in 2017.
"The main task before this third session of the Zimbabwe-South Africa BNC is to review progress in the implementation of previously agreed projects under the various Memorandum of Understanding already in operation. These cover the political, economic, social and technical sectors of the two countries."
During the last BNC held in Johannesburg, Zimbabwe and South Africa agreed to operationalise the Beitbridge One-Stop Border Post. The two countries agreed that the border had become the busiest port of entry on the continent and as such, there was need to facilitate the smooth flow of business for the benefit of both countries.
Zimbabwe and South Africa also signed five agreements for cross-border trading cooperation, energy, environment, information communication technologies (ICT) and sports and recreation.
Diplomatic sources said last week the engagements might also centre on sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe and possible credit lines from Pretoria. President Ramaphosa has on several occasions called for the unconditional lifting of the sanctions on Zimbabwe, which have had a deleterious impact on the region.
In a statement a fortnight ago, South Africa's International Relations and Cooperation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu said one of the main issues on the agenda for this year's BNC would be sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the West. In January, President Ramaphosa took the campaign against illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he said Harare needs support from the international community to overcome its economic challenges. Last year, President Ramaphosa also called on the European Union to lift sanctions on Zimbabwe.
Source - sundaynews
