South Africa’s Zuma To Receive Zimbabwe’s New President Mnangagwa
By SA News
South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma will on Thursday receive a courtesy call from the Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, at his Mahlamba Ndlopfu residence, in Pretoria.
President Mnangagwa is on his first working visit to South Africa since his inauguration in November.
“During the courtesy call, the two Heads of State will share perspectives on various issues of mutual importance, such as regional, continental and international developments,” the Presidency said on Wednesday.
President Mnangagwa is serving as interim President until August 2018, when former President Robert Mugabe’s term was set to expire and when the people of Zimbabwe are set to elect their next leader.
South Africa and Zimbabwe enjoy cordial bilateral relations underpinned by strong historical and political bonds that date back to the era of the liberation struggle.
The significance of these diplomatic relations are marked by the annual convening of the Bi-National Commission (BNC) signed in 2015 and co-chaired by the two Heads of State.
To date, the two countries have signed more than 40 Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) and agreements.
The agreements and MoUs cover a broad range of areas, including trade and investment, immigration, defence, transport, agriculture, environment, energy, health, labour, water management, taxation, as well as arts and culture.
Zimbabwe is one of South Africa’s top five trading partners on the continent, with trade statistics showing annual growth.
In 2016, South Africa’s exports to Zimbabwe amounted to approximately R29.3 billion.
There are over 120 South African companies doing business in Zimbabwe in various sectors including mining, aviation, tourism, banking sector, the property sector, the retail sector, construction sector, as well as the fast food sector.
