WeeklySA_AdminINVESTMENT: President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on South Africa and Zimbabwe to tackle their trade imbalance, invest jointly in infrastructure and turn the neighbours’ mineral wealth into jobs and shared prosperity…
By Own Correspondent
President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for stronger economic cooperation between South Africa and Zimbabwe, with a focus on balancing trade, expanding infrastructure investment and transforming the two countries’ natural resources into jobs and greater prosperity.
Addressing the Fourth Session of the South Africa–Zimbabwe Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Pretoria on Friday, Ramaphosa said the neighbouring countries should use their bilateral mechanisms and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to increase trade and address the significant imbalance between them.
“Zimbabwe is one of our largest trading partners. Over the last four years, the value of our bilateral trade has almost doubled,” Ramaphosa said.
“However, there is a significant imbalance in trade between our two countries. South Africa exports much more to Zimbabwe than it imports.”
Working together, we must convert our abundant mineral
resources into jobs, opportunity and prosperity for our people…
He said the two countries should work together to narrow the deficit and increase the production and export of goods manufactured from their natural resources. “We must use the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area to increase the volume and balance the composition of trade between our two countries,” he said.
The ministerial report presented to the BNC was expected to assess progress and identify further opportunities in mining, energy, agriculture, transport, logistics and water management.
Infrastructure investment
Ramaphosa emphasised the importance of infrastructure investment in supporting economic growth and expanding trade. “We should be working together to build the bridges, roads, dams, airports, health facilities and schools that will drive our economies into the future,” he said.
He said South African institutions such as the Development Bank of Southern Africa and the Industrial Development Corporation were ready to invest in high-impact projects in Zimbabwe.
“These are projects that connect factories and farms to markets. Projects that connect power stations to businesses and homes. That connect dams to taps. That connect countries to their neighbours.”
Minerals and energy
Ramaphosa said South Africa and Zimbabwe should deepen cooperation in mining and ensure that their mineral wealth contributes more directly to economic development and job creation.
“Working together, we must convert our abundant mineral resources into jobs, opportunity and prosperity for our people,” he said. He noted Zimbabwe’s growing production of gold, platinum and critical minerals such as lithium, saying the country was rapidly emerging as an important global player.
South Africa, he added, was also increasing investment in mineral exploration and beneficiation.
“We have said for many years that our minerals should be processed at home, that we should export finished products. Together, we need to put that aspiration into practice,” Ramaphosa said.
The President also called for closer energy cooperation, highlighting the potential of the Southern African Power Pool to support the development of clean, affordable and reliable energy across the region.
Water and food security
Ramaphosa pointed to the agreement to supply water from Zimbabwe’s Beitbridge Water Works to Musina as an example of how the neighbours could collaborate to meet basic needs and strengthen their resilience to climate change.
He also urged the two countries to intensify cooperation in agriculture and food security.
“We must work together to ensure that all our people have enough food. Let us use our vast arable land for intensified production and support our communal and commercial farmers,” he said.
Such cooperation was particularly important as Southern Africa confronted accelerating climate change and recurring droughts that were putting pressure on water sources and grazing land.
Borders and regional security
Ramaphosa also called for greater cooperation on migration, border management and the fight against cross-border crime.
“As neighbours that have so much to offer each other, it is critical that we continue our cooperation on migration and border management. To ease the movement of people and goods, we must modernise our facilities and systems,” he said.
Beyond bilateral matters, the President said peace and stability remained essential to development in Southern Africa and across the continent.
He expressed concern about conflict and instability in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cabo Delgado in Mozambique and Madagascar. He also highlighted the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, instability in South Sudan and armed insurgencies in the Sahel. “In a geopolitical environment that has become unpredictable and fractured, there is now an even greater need for the peaceful resolution of conflict, mediation and dialogue,” he said. Ramaphosa congratulated Zimbabwe on its election to a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2027–2028 term.
He said South Africa expected Zimbabwe to use its position to draw international attention to conflicts impeding Africa’s development and to support African-led efforts to resolve them.
Shared history
Reflecting on the deep historical relationship between the countries, Ramaphosa said their future would be shaped by common aspirations.
“We are one people. Our spirits are inseparable. Our past has been shaped by shared culture, history and language. Our future will be shaped by shared aspirations,” he said.
He also recalled Zimbabwe’s support for South Africans during the struggle against colonialism, white-minority rule and apartheid.
“As South Africa, we will forever remember that the people of Zimbabwe gave us shelter, protection and support in the darkest times of our struggle.” Ramaphosa conveyed his condolences to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the people of Zimbabwe and bereaved families following the Lake Kariba ferry tragedy.
Established in April 2015, the BNC is the central mechanism for managing and advancing the strategic partnership between South Africa and Zimbabwe. More than 33 agreements and memoranda of understanding have been concluded across several areas of cooperation.
The fourth session gave the two heads of state an opportunity to review the implementation of existing commitments and identify new areas of collaboration. It culminated in the signing of several agreements and memoranda of understanding.
“Our people expect that this Bi-National Commission will deliver concrete results,” Ramaphosa said.
“South Africa and Zimbabwe stand together. We are two countries with a common history and a common destiny.”
