President Emmerson Mnangagwa has assured South African investors who wish to invest in the country that their business interests will be protected.
Speaking at the 3rd session of the inaugural Zimbabwe – South Africa Bi-National Commission, which was attended by visiting South Africa president Cyril Ramaphosa, President Mnangagwa said the Zimbabwe government is ready to engage in dialogue concerning challenges they may face while carrying out their operations in the country.
“Being intricately linked partners, opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation and joint ventures among our economic operators are vast.
“I challenge our private sectors to ride on the goodwill prevailing at government level. I appeal to state owned enterprises to look beyond elementary economic exchanges and forge strategic partnerships that will transform national economics,” said Mnangagwa.
He said this would enable Zimbabwe to accelerate entry and participation in global value chains.
“We must deliberately strategise to benefit from the regional as continental integration processes such as the African Continental Free Trade Area,” He said.
President Mnangagwa emphasized that South Africa is the best partner to assist Zimbabwe’s journey of hope to achieve a middle class economy status by 2030.
He said the neighboring country’s support for Zimbabwe to succeed cannot be taken for granted.
“You understand that our success is your success hence you have stood with us in solidarity. I exhort our two countries to continue to ward off machinations of those who wish to break our strong ties. While our friends are many and their efforts are appreciated, our detractors on the other hand are tireless and relentless in their ill intentions,” said Mnangagwa.
The BNC kicked off yesterday in Harare, with both countries keen to strengthen bilateral ties.
The talks come at a time when the country just had a similar engagement with the Botswana government as the government continues to engage other countries to invest in the country as part of efforts to stimulate economic growth.
