Story by Oleen Ndori, Foreign Desk Editor
ZIMBABWE and Zambia have reaffirmed their commitment to elevating cooperation under the framework of a Bi-National Commission (BNC).
This emerged when Vice President Colonel (Rtd) Kembo Mohadi met with Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema in Lusaka this Monday.
Discussions in the meeting revealed that while the two countries cooperate on a number of bilateral and multilateral platforms, elevating the Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation to a Bi-National Commission will allow the two countries to sustainably grow their economies.
“I commend the strides made over the years in terms of cooperation. I am optimistic that the proposed elevation of the Joint Permanent Commission to a BNC will inject impetus into the implementation of various programmes. I should here recognise the strategic importance of Africa’s Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area, encouraging local production and regional collaboration to build resilient economies on the continent. I applaud and encourage the continuation of high-level exchange that the convening of the Zimbabwe-Zambia mid-term review scheduled for September is carried out and is so important to us all. We thank the Republic of Zambia for hosting over 10 000 Zimbabwean students who are living peacefully in Zambia,” the Vice President said.
President Hichilema emphasised the need for both countries to focus on economic development and infrastructure enhancement.
“Zimbabwe and Zambia have a lot to do on the economic front. Development of our two countries’ economies, infrastructure, Kariba Dam, and power stations. Given the negative effects of climate change, we need to do more to manage our common assets so we can derive more value from those assets. The region is short of energy because of climate change and our business colleagues are talking to your people there on how we can accelerate clean coal technology in generating electricity. The coal resources we have should be available for power stations on both sides of the river.”
With Vice President Mohadi having conveyed Zimbabwe’s commiserations following the passing of former President Egar Lungu, President Hichilema expressed gratitude to the support Zimbabwe has rendered during the current impasse with regards to the burial of Dr Lungu.
“Please pass on our appreciation to President Mnangagwa for consoling us after the death of Edgar Lungu. We are hoping that, as you know, we have some impasse going on around the burial of our sixth President. We have a tradition here, a legal one as well, established by the people of Zambia through different pieces of legislation, that Presidents, whether we like it or not, get buried at a place we call Embassy Park. It is a tradition and a decision made by the people,” President Hichilema noted.
Close cooperation is expected to see development in the various sectors of the two countries’ economies.
“Zambia and Zimbabwe are one. Those who led our two countries before us have carried on that tradition and recognition, not just bonded by history and colonial heritage, but the history, having been one country at some point, the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland,” the Zambian President said.
Vice President Mohadi also reflected on the shared liberation struggle, cultural ties, and long-standing people-to-people relations.
“Some of us grew up here. Our shared liberation struggle was paramount in shaping our resilience as African people, our culture and heritage and our unity. Zimbabwe appreciates Zambia’s unwavering support during our darkest hours,” he said.
The elevation of bilateral cooperation to a Bi-National Commission is expected to strengthen strategic initiatives across economic, infrastructure, and energy sectors, positioning both Zimbabwe and Zambia to achieve shared development goals.
