Zimbabwe and Rwanda have committed to urgently enhancing trade and economic cooperation in line with the pleasant relations the two countries enjoy.

Zimbabwe’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Fredrick Shava, and Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Vincent Biruta, made the commitments while addressing the second session of the Zimbabwe-Rwanda Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation in Harare on Tuesday, May 16.

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Shava said:” I must point out that on a quantitative scale, the level of economic exchanges between our two countries remains incommensurate with our potential. It is with this in mind, that we may need to address all the challenges that stand in the way of the deepening and expansion of our economic cooperation.”

He said agreements being signed between the two countries should be fully implemented.

"You will agree with me, Honourable Minister (Biruta) that, without the real work on the ground, MoUs and agreements are just but empty commitments on a modest piece of paper,” Shava said, adding: "Therefore, it is imperative that we must be prepared to work flat out to ensure their full implementation. This is why I feel compelled to heap accolades on all the sectors that have gone a step further to do the actual work to implement these joint decisions.”

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Biruta said: "Both our counties urgently need to enhance trade and economic cooperation in line with the cordial relations our countries enjoy. "

Biruta said both countries continue to collaborate in various sectors such as energy, tourism, and infrastructure development, among others, and that joint ventures and partnerships in these areas have the potential to significantly grow the two countries’ economies, create jobs and improve livelihoods.

He noted that political relations between Rwanda and Zimbabwe are also robust.

"Our shared commitment to democracy and good governance as well as the rule of law has led to several cooperation agreements in the fields of good governance and Justice. We have shared experience in conflict resolution and peacebuilding and Zimbabwe has demonstrated support in the international arena for Rwanda’s efforts towards sustainable peace and security.”

Zimbabwe and Rwanda were expected to sign additional memoranda of understanding in the fields of gender empowerment, provision of sustainable, affordable, functional, low to medium-cost housing and new building technologies, higher and tertiary education, and science and technology development.

No time for complacency

Biruta said this will further cement relations between the two countries.

Commenting on progress made since the first JPCC in 2021, Shava said: "Looking back at the last two years that our Joint Commission has been in session; I think we should be proud of the pragmatic and collaborative approach we have taken. From the very start, we have worked to deliver concrete results that support the development thrust of our two countries. In order to efficiently deliver, we divided our focus into three clusters namely; political, diplomatic, defence and security cluster, economic cluster and the social affairs cluster.”

He added: "I am glad that in all those clusters, we have not just produced narratives, but every single one of them is contributing to the political and socio-economic development of our two countries.”

Shava said the cooperation in the field of agriculture and animal resources is also showing strong signs of having the ability to deliver tangible results, adding that the energy sector also holds so much promise for the JPCC.

In the Social Affairs cluster, Shava said the MoU on the exchange of educational personnel and expertise has also set the bar high.

"I am impressed by the successful secondment of the first batch of about 158 Zimbabwean teachers and lecturers to Rwanda. Such technical exchanges will go a long way in invigorating the respective sectors as well as our people-to-people ties,” he said.

He said both countries should guard against complacency in the implementation of the agreements under the JPCC.

"While being proud of the successes we have achieved thus far; this is no time for complacency. As Co-Chair, it is my goal that our work today leads to the generation of concrete action plans that will advance the scope and depth of our bilateral cooperation,” Shava said.