PRETORIA, Gauteng — South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa have jointly called for a reassessment and expansion of bilateral trade arrangements during the opening of the fourth session of the South Africa-Zimbabwe Bi-National Commission. The high-level forum underscored a shared commitment to transforming strong political ties into practical, cross-border investment opportunities and balanced economic growth.
Serving as a central mechanism for managing the strategic partnership between the two southern African neighbors, the commission highlighted their robust commercial relationship. According to the South African presidency, South African exports to Zimbabwe were valued at just over $4 billion USD in 2025. The gathering successfully united government officials and business leaders to evaluate progress on more than 33 existing pacts focused on economic development and cross-border transport.
President Ramaphosa highlighted that bilateral trade has nearly doubled over the past four years, presenting abundant opportunities for both nations. He emphasized that the adoption of important decisions and the signing of new legal instruments across various cooperative fields must now be translated into tangible outcomes through concrete actions.
“Inclusive economic growth will give us the means to widen access to food, shelter, health, education, water, and sanitation for our people,” Ramaphosa stated, adding that this growth will directly drive employment creation and new economic opportunities. He urged that the political will demonstrated during the session should encourage companies and partners from both countries to invest with great enthusiasm.
Echoing the call for deeper economic integration, President Mnangagwa reiterated that Zimbabwe remains firmly “open for business.” He affirmed his country’s commitment to eliminating all tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade and expressed readiness to proactively resolve any operational challenges faced by South African entities currently working in Zimbabwe. Mnangagwa noted that this mantra reflects a dedicated effort to improve the overall ease of doing business and forge stronger cross-border investment partnerships.
The bilateral meeting occurs as Southern Africa intensifies broader efforts to strengthen regional integration, industrialization, and regional value chains. This push for economic unity also comes at a time of heightened tension regarding migration in South Africa, where recent months have seen xenophobic violence and migrant deportations affecting thousands of foreign nationals, including Zimbabwean citizens.
Concluding the session, both leaders emphasized the deep social connections that unite their populations beyond mere commerce. To further solidify this partnership and ensure mutual prosperity, they agreed to actively utilize the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework to maximize and increase future trade volumes between the two nations.