Zambia and Zimbabwe Strengthen Bilateral Ties at 18th Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation
Hon. Mulambo Haimbe, SC, M.P, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, led the Zambian delegation to the 18th Session of the Zambia-Zimbabwe Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation (JPCC) in Harare, Zimbabwe, on 14th March.
The meeting, co-chaired by Hon. Fredrick M. Shava, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Zimbabwe, saw significant strides in enhancing bilateral relations between the two nations.
Key highlights of the session included the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) focusing on trade and investment. The first MoU, signed by the Zambia Development Agency, the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency, and ZimTrade, aims to boost economic collaboration between the two countries.
The second MoU, inked between the Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce, seeks to strengthen commercial ties at the grassroots level.
In his opening remarks, Hon. Haimbe underscored the longstanding friendship and shared heritage between Zambia and Zimbabwe. He emphasized the critical juncture at which both nations find themselves, with a mutual goal of economic transformation, climate change mitigation, poverty alleviation, and job creation.
The Minister stressed the importance of collaborative efforts in implementing policies conducive to economic growth, investment attraction, and job creation.
Furthermore, Hon. Haimbe expressed optimism that the JPCC would serve as a catalyst for expanding cooperation across various sectors.
These encompassed capacity building, information sharing, financial and legal matters, tourism, agriculture, science and technology, energy, transportation, infrastructure development, among others. He also reiterated Zambia’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with Zimbabwe for the betterment of both nations’ populations.
The Ministerial segment of the JPCC followed a Senior Officials Meeting held from March 13th to 14th, 2024, setting the stage for substantive discussions and agreements.
The 18th Session of the Zambia-Zimbabwe JPCC marks another significant milestone in the enduring partnership between the two neighboring countries, paving the way for deeper cooperation and shared prosperity.
