Story by ZBC Reporter
THE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Professor Amon Murwira, has called for adoption for indigenous solutions to enhance the lives of the general population in Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Speaking at the inaugural session of the Zimbabwe-Zambia Bi-National Commission (BNC), Minister Murwira made a strong call for the removal of colonial laws that continue to hinder genuine development and independence across Zimbabwe and Zambia, saying the two nations must break historical barriers to achieve prosperity.
“We want to enhance the quality of life of the peoples of Zambia and Zimbabwe. Development is movement from poverty to prosperity, and this development is through employing capabilities and removing colonial laws so that our people begin to enjoy independence. We always say it’s impossible to use indigenous laws to create a Zimbabwe or a Zambia. They were not meant for that. So we are here to break those barriers,” he said.
While reaffirming Zimbabwe and Zambia’s long-standing ties with the launch of the inaugural BNC, marking a significant milestone in 45 years of diplomatic relations, minister Murwira said collaboration between the two countries continues to expand, anchored in trade, energy, industrialisation and tourism.
“We are collaborating in the Joint Industrialisation Programme, supported by COMESA, aimed at regional economic growth. In the energy sector, our cooperation in hydroelectric power generation through Kariba remains a cornerstone of our partnership. In tourism, we continue to jointly promote Victoria Falls and the Kaza Univisa regime, enhancing mobility and unlocking economic opportunities for our communities. When you see people having a dispute in a family, it’s normally poverty. So it’s poverty that we are fighting. And we fight it by removing all barriers to trade, all barriers to commerce, all barriers to the movement of our people,” he said.
The two countries are also collaborating on several regional infrastructure and energy projects, including the Lions’ Den-Kafue railway link and the Batoka Gorge hydroelectric power project, both of which are expected to transform regional trade and energy generation.
“We are also making significant strides in infrastructure development. The Lions’ Den to Kafue railway link and the Batoka Gorge hydroelectric scheme affliction projects, with the potential to transform our economies and deepen regional integration,” minister Murwira said.
Speaking at the same occasion, Zambia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Honourable Mulambo Hamakuni Haimbe described the establishment of the Zimbabwe-Zambia Bi-National Commission as a historic milestone that marks a new chapter in deepening cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.
He added that the formalisation of the commission represents a bold and deliberate step towards transformational partnership, driven by the shared vision of Presidents Hakainde Hichilema and Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa.
“The formal establishment of this BNC marks a significant leap forward in our bilateral cooperation architecture. It is the outcome of thoughtful consultations and strategic guidance from our Heads of State, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia, and His Excellency Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, who both share a compelling vision for a deeper, more results-oriented partnership between our two countries,” he said.
Minister Haimbe stressed that the BNC is more than a procedural development from the Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation, noting that it is designed to translate diplomatic dialogue into concrete, measurable progress across key sectors such as trade, energy, infrastructure and job creation.
“As we convene here today, it is important to underscore that this BNC is not merely a procedural evolution of the Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation, but a deliberate and bold step towards catalysing transformational cooperation. Our shared effort must now translate into concrete action across key priority areas. Our cooperation in managing shared resources remains an important pillar of this relationship.
“We must continue to work closely on the sustainable management of the Zambezi River Basin, the conservation of wildlife resources, and the implementation of the joint management plan for the Victoria Falls/Mosi-oa-Tunya World Heritage Site. Similarly, the operationalisation of the Victoria Falls–Livingstone One Stop Border Post on a 24-hour basis should be expedited to facilitate trade and tourism,” he said.
The BNC follows a series of high-level engagements, including the bilateral consultative meeting in Livingstone, the fourth Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security in Victoria Falls and the visit by Zambia’s Secretary-General of the United Party for National Development (UPND) earlier this year. These exchanges, Minister Haimbe noted, reflect the strong political will between the two nations to deepen cooperation.
Meanwhile, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema is expected in the country this Friday, where he will join his counterpart, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, in co-chairing the Inaugural Session of the BNC.
