Story by Owen Mandovha
ZIMBABWE and Zambia continue to enjoy a mutually beneficial and flourishing trade relationship, with trade volumes reaching nearly US$390 million in 2024.
The strong bilateral ties were recently reaffirmed in Lusaka during the Zimbabwe National Day Celebrations, where Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Zambia, Her Excellency Charity Charamba, highlighted the significance of the Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation (JPCC) in strengthening economic collaboration between the two countries.
“The JPCC is such a powerful platform that the two countries are using to deepen their economic cooperation and we are learning from each other through economic diplomacy which is vital in creating strong economies,” she said.
Guest of Honour at the event was the country’s Minister of Science and Technology, Honourable Felix Mutati who described the US$390 million trade increase as an indication of enhanced relations.
“Last year alone trade was over US$390 million, the biggest in the region with an otter trading partner and this is truant to the importance of Zimbabwe as a trading partner and it is encouraging that we are working to shape not only the affairs of the region but those of the continent,” he said.
Many Zimbabwean businesses are spreading wings in Zambia, a testament to the cordial relations.
“We have businesses here and we are from Zimbabwe, it is worth noting that the market is growing our exports into Zambia,” a company, Tendo Electronics said.
“Our experience in the tobacco industry is so vast and we are indeed contributing to Zambia’s tobacco industry growth,” another company, Enlightened Trading said.
Cooperation in education has also escalated with the ED UNZA scholarship providing opportunities to many underprivileged students who are now studying in Zambia.
“I’m from Zimbabwe and have benefited a lot from studying here through the ED UNZA scholarship,” a student said.
“I owe it to the Zambia and Zimbabwe trade relations that I’m studying here,” another student said.
Zimbabwe’s engagement and re-engagement policy thrust of being an enemy to none and friends to all is benefiting the economy through increased trade and investment into the country as reflected by high trade volumes between the two countries.
