Story by Online Reporter
ZAMBIAN President Hakainde Hichilema has called on Zimbabwe and Zambia to retrace their shared liberation roots and carry forward the unfinished work of the founding nationalists, stressing that the future of both nations depends on preserving the unity and vision that shaped their independence struggles.
In his address during the inaugural Zimbabwe-Zambia Bi-National Commission (BNC) at Harare International Conference Centre in Harare on Friday, President Hichilema said the two countries must remain guided by the values of solidarity, sacrifice and cooperation that defined their historic ties, adding that the next generation would judge today’s leaders by their ability to protect and build upon that legacy.
Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Hichilema co-chaired the Zimbabwe-Zambia Bi-National Commission marking the upgrading of relations from the long-standing Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation.
“Our shared identity, our solidarity, our deep bones are just beginning to grow stronger and stronger. We need to walk the path that those that came before walked in our relationship, and I call the people Zimbabwe, the people of Zambia at a people-to-people level to continue deepening this partnership. Governments are drawn from families, that’s where we were elected in office and the strength of our partnership should be anchored at family levels,” he said.
President Hichilema said the BNC has been long overdue and is confident that the two countries will explore more opportunities for cooperation in various sectors of the economy for the benefit of the SADC region.
“Zimbabwe and Zambia have been together pre-independence. If you look at the historic sites in Zimbabwe and trade routes at that time in the stone age era, in the iron age era, you will see the routes from here crossing the river in Chirundu in a place called Ing’ombe Ilede. Our people traded, lived together, raised families together. This upgrade from the joint Permanent Commission to Bi-National Commission is a commendable development as we continue watering our relationship,” President Hichilema said.
The visiting President also praised Zimbabwe’s advances in the mining sector, particularly its rapid growth in lithium production, saying Zambia stands to draw valuable lessons from its neighbour’s progress.
He emphasised that it is now imperative for the two countries to dismantle long-standing trade barriers that have limited the full economic benefits of bilateral commerce, stressing that enhanced cooperation would unlock greater industrial and regional growth.
“We are here to learn, my mines team is here to learn on how you are managing lithium, I think you are ahead of us there. We have embarked on a nationwide high resolution geo-physical mapping; we would like to manage these resources together and exploit them in a way that would benefit the Zimbabwean and Zambian economy to help grow our economies. While others are imposing tariffs, let’s take the tariffs out, then we have more growth transactions in our two countries.”
He said Zambia and Zimbabwe should lead with the Africa Free Trade Area while encouraging the private sector to collaborate as foreign direct investment does not only mean Europe but can start with ZIM-ZAM and other neighbours in the SADC.
“We would like to see more joint investments joint investments in business in Zambia and Zimbabwe. When we talk of foreign direct investment, let’s not think of Europe, let’s think of ZIM-ZAM. When we pull our capital together it will be available quicker than waiting for longer periods through lengthy processes. Anything that stands in the way of goods that are manufactured here and in demand in Zambia must be removed.”
President Hichilema also encouraged joint operations between security forces for the two countries to continue enjoying a peaceful environment that has prevailed, a conducive environment for trade and economic growth.
