Story by John Nhandara
MT HAMPDEN-ZIMBABWE and Zambia are pursuing deliberate strategies to enhance bilateral trade, amid a shifting global geopolitical environment that is expected to significantly impact commerce within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
This commitment was reaffirmed during a high-level engagement between Zambia’s Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Honourable Chipoka Mulenga, and Zimbabwe’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Professor Amon Murwira.
The bilateral meeting took place on the sidelines of the 34th SADC Committee of Ministers of Trade held in Mt Hampden.
Central to the discussions was the identification and removal of Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) currently hampering the smooth flow of goods and services between the two countries.
A key resolution from the engagement was the establishment of Joint Technical Teams tasked with addressing trade impediments and promoting intra-regional investment.
In an emphatic statement, Honourable Mulenga described Zimbabwe and Zambia as “Siamese twins”, united not only by geographical proximity but also by deep-rooted historical ties.
“Beyond the Victoria Falls that join us, we have got strong historical ties post and pre-independence and that should continue to grow from strength to strength. We believe that you cannot share poverty; you can only share wealth. So wealth must be created between the two of us,” he said.
He further underscored the importance of intra-African investment and collaboration as a sustainable path towards economic self-sufficiency, especially in the wake of shifting global dynamics.
“We are talking about regional integration Southern African countries, COMESA, and now the CFTA. But for this to be a reality, neighbours must work together through enhanced trade. We must support Zambian and Zimbabwean businesspeople to invest in each other’s countries, rather than solely relying on overseas investors,” he added.
The meeting comes at a time when the continent is reassessing its trade strategies to ensure resilience and adaptability in the face of global supply chain disruptions.
The 34th Committee of Ministers of Trade and the 24th Ministerial Taskforce on Regional Integration concluded with a resolution to advance SADC’s industrialisation agenda.
The resolution seeks to eliminate enduring barriers to regional economic integration and to accelerate progress towards the full realisation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
