Story by Oleen Ndori, Foreign Desk Editor
ZIMBABWE and Namibia are seeking to deepen cooperation in various economic sectors under a Bi-National Commission (BNC).
The transition from a Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation to a Bi-national Commission is expected to deepen the cordial relations enjoyed by the two countries.
Namibia’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Peya Mushelega met his Zimbabwean counterpart, Professor Amon Murwira on the sidelines of the SADC Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government this Wednesday.
“We have cooperated in various areas, both bilaterally and multilaterally. Our two countries have political consultations at the level of ministers. We have also signed an agreement to elevate the joint commission to a level of a bi-national commission that will be chaired by the heads of state.
“Zimbabwe has been an all-weather front for Namibia. When we were in a very difficult period of COVID-19, it was Zimbabwe that helped us to lift our vaccines that came from China. So we come here to discuss issues of mutual interests between the two countries, both bilaterally and multilaterally. We have a number of projects that we are working on,” said Dr Mushelenga.
Professor Murwira said Zimbabwe and Namibia are committed to pushing a number of projects that will grow their economies.
“I’m very pleased that today we had a meeting with my dear brother. He just paid a courtesy call to us. This is more than important and significant because Zimbabwe and the Republic of Namibia have got deep fraternal relations, more than excellent relations, and we always have to check on each other and be able to move our agendas forward, which is the agenda of integration.
“He has talked about the Trans-Kalahari and that project that we are very interested in making sure that is successful, but also many other issues. We are socially linked, we are economically linked, we are politically linked, bilaterally, regionally, as well as internationally. So Namibia and Zimbabwe, as he says, are all weather brothers and sisters, and that’s how it is. We always have to be together and looking forward to a very good common future.”
Zimbabwe and Namibia are partnering in a number of sectors that include the Walvis Bay Dry Port and content exchange under the memorandum of understanding in information and media along with engagements in trade and commerce.
