South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and his Zambian counterpart Hakainde Hichilema held talks in Pretoria on Wednesday where they discussed relations between the two Southern African Development Community (SADC) members.
“President Hichilema’s courtesy call on President Ramaphosa provided an opportunity for bilateral discussions between South Africa and Zambia ahead of an inaugural Bi-National Commission scheduled for later this year,” the Presidency said in a statement on Thursday.
During the meeting, the two leaders touched on regional issues, reaffirming South Africa’s and Zambia’s common international policy of a stable and peaceful continent.
“This shared approach includes the use of multilateral bodies to advance the African Agenda and that of the global South, and the collective solidarity of the SADC community in the fight against terrorism and insurgencies,” the presidency said.
Ramaphosa commended Zambia’s fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, reasserting that developing countries must have equity in developing and distributing vaccines.
The two leaders noted progress in the establishment of facilities in Africa for the production of vaccines and other therapeutics that would reach populations around the continent, the high office noted.
“The leaders identified the need for South Africa and Zambia to keep one another abreast of investment opportunities in each country, and to actively encourage business to invest in areas of mutual benefit for regional development such as in mineral beneficiation, local manufacturing and agriculture,” according to the presidency.
South Africa and Zambia enjoy cordial relations, underpinned by strong historical and political bonds that date back to the era of apartheid and the liberation struggle, when the ruling African National Congress set up its head office in the Zambian capital Lusaka.
Hichilema is on a two-day private visit to South Africa.
NM/jn/APA