Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri Appointed Zimbabwe Acting President

December 21, 2017
| Report Focus News

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has left for Pretoria, South Africa on a one day visit to meet with his counterpart President Jacob Zuma.

President Mnangagwa is also expected to meet Zimbabwean business people based in the neighbouring country and South African investors.

He was seen off at the Robert Mugabe International Airport by Acting President Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, Minister of State for Harare Province Cde Mirriam Chikukwa, Minister of Defence, Security and War Veterans Cde Kembo Mohadi and service chiefs.

This is the President’s first working visit to South Africa since his inauguration on 24 November 2017.

South Africa and Zimbabwe enjoy cordial bilateral relations underpinned by strong historical and political bonds that date back to the era of the liberation struggle.

The significance of the diplomatic relations is evidenced by the annual convening of the Bi-National Commission (BNC) signed in 2015 and co-chaired by the two heads of state.

The previous session of the BNC was held in South Africa on 3 October 2017.

The two countries have signed over 40 memoranda of understanding and agreements and the scope of cooperation is vast covering several fields, including security, energy, agriculture, mining, infrastructure development, trade, transport and arts and culture.

Trade between the two countries has seen tremendous growth over the years with Zimbabwe being one of South Africa’s top five trading partners in the region and the continent.

South African exports to Zimbabwe in 2016 were worth R29.3 billion.