President Mnangagwa being welcomed by his Zambian counterpart President Edgar Chagwa Lungu at State House in Lusaka, Zambia, yesterday.
Zimbabwe and Zambia yesterday signed four Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) as the two sister republics moved to elevate and deepen their historical and economic relations.
President Mnangagwa and his Zambian counterpart President Edgar Chagwa Lungu oversaw the signing ceremony at the Zambian State House.
The signing ceremony followed a two-day meeting of the 17th Session of the Zimbabwe-Zambia Joint Permanent Commission that ended here yesterday.
The first MoU was on the establishment of a one-stop border post at the Victoria Falls/Livingstone border.
Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu signed the MoU on behalf of Zimbabwe, while Zambian Minister of Commerce and Industry Christopher Yaluma signed on behalf of his country.
The second MoU was on the cooperation of management and preservation of Zimbabwe’s liberation war grave sites.
Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Cain Mathema, who is also the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, signed on behalf of Zimbabwe while Zambia was represented by its Tourism Minister Charles Banda.
The MoU seeks to promote and appreciate the history and values, ideals and goals of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle and construction and reconstruction of site museums and monuments at the grave sites.
The two ministers also signed a third MoU on cultural exchange cooperation under which the two countries seek to enhance cooperation in the field of culture and arts.
Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Minister Sithembiso Nyoni and her Zambian counterpart Elizabeth Phiri, who is the Gender Minister, signed the fourth MoU on gender equity and equality and women empowerment through sharing experiences.
Before the signing ceremony, Zambian Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Malanji briefed the two Heads of State and Government on the deliberations and outcomes of the Joint Permanent Commission.
Minister Malanji said Zambia was also excited by the donation of two male rhinos by Zimbabwe.
He said it was their wish as the Joint Permanent Commission to upgrade relations between the two countries to Bi-National Commission level.
Other ministers from Zimbabwe who attended the 17th session of Joint Permanent Commission were Energy and Power Development Minister Jorum Gumbo, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Joel Biggie Matiza.