South African minister Ronald Lamola and Zimbabwean minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Relations, Prof Amon Murwira, during a SADC meeting in Durban. Photo Credit: GCIS

NNA News - South Africa and Zimbabwe are seeking to translate their longstanding political relationship into practical economic gains, with transport infrastructure, border efficiency and industrialisation emerging as key priorities at the Fourth Session of their Bi-National Commission. This report is compiled by Zim Now.

The ministerial segment of the commission concluded in Pretoria on Thursday, with the two countries identifying the proposed Third Limpopo Bridge and the full operationalisation of the Beitbridge One Stop Border Post among projects expected to support trade between the two neighbours.

South Africa’s International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Ronald Lamola, said the projects formed part of a wider list of priority interventions, including a fertiliser manufacturing plant, automotive component production, mineral beneficiation, industrial parks, and Special Economic Zones. “We are encouraged by the decision to identify high-impact priority projects,” Lamola said, listing the Third Limpopo Bridge and Beitbridge One Stop Border Post alongside the proposed industrial projects.

The focus on Beitbridge reflects the importance of the border crossing to trade and movement between Zimbabwe, South Africa and the wider North-South Corridor. Improvements to border operations could help reduce delays and logistics costs for commercial traffic and other travellers. Lamola said the two countries needed to move beyond political commitments and focus on delivering tangible outcomes. “Our partnership must now translate ambition into implementation,” he said.

The economic relationship between the two countries relies heavily on the movement of goods, people and investment across their shared border. Infrastructure and border management improvements could therefore have implications for businesses and regional trade networks that extend beyond the two countries. The governments are also seeking greater cooperation in sectors that could strengthen domestic production and regional value chains. These include manufacturing, mineral beneficiation, agriculture and energy, alongside initiatives aimed at creating opportunities for small businesses, women and young people.

Officials from South Africa and Zimbabwe pose for a group photograph during the Bi-National Commission proceedings. Photo Credit: Herald Online

Several agreements are expected to be signed when President Cyril Ramaphosa and President Emmerson Mnangagwa meet on Friday. “These agreements are important because they provide a legal framework for our cooperation in various areas. They will strengthen institutional collaboration, expand trade and investment, promote industrialisation, and deepen regional value chains,” Lamola said.

The BNC also endorsed cooperation in diplomatic training through a new Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries. Migration was another area of discussion, with Pretoria and Harare seeking to strengthen border management while meeting their obligations towards migrants. “We reaffirm our commitment to managing migration in a lawful, humane and coordinated manner, while unequivocally rejecting xenophobia, vigilantism and all forms of violence directed against foreign nationals,” Lamola said.

The implementation of the projects identified during the commission will remain a key test of the bilateral economic agenda. Lamola said additional consultation and work would be required before the priority projects could advance, placing implementation at the centre of the next phase of cooperation. “Our Heads of State rightly expect outcomes that are credible, implementable and capable of improving the daily lives of our citizens,” he said.

To strengthen oversight between successive bilateral meetings, the two governments have agreed to introduce an electronic monitoring system to track the implementation of BNC resolutions. “It is therefore incumbent upon all of us to ensure rigorous implementation, effective monitoring and sustained coordination between our respective institutions,” Lamola said. The proposed monitoring mechanism will be particularly relevant to infrastructure and industrial projects that require coordination between multiple government departments, financing and implementation over extended periods.

The meeting between Ramaphosa and Mnangagwa on Friday is expected to provide an opportunity to advance the agreements and priorities identified during the commission.