PRETORIA, Gauteng — South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa have jointly championed a major expansion of South Africa-Zimbabwe trade relations during the fourth session of the South Africa-Zimbabwe Bi-National Commission. Hosting the strategic dialogue in Pretoria, the two leaders focused on recalibrating bilateral trade frameworks to ensure balanced economic growth and deeper regional integration.
The Bi-National Commission acts as the cornerstone for advancing the strategic alliance between the neighboring nations. Highlighting the strength of their current commercial relationship, the South African presidency reported that South African exports to Zimbabwe were valued at just over $4 billion USD in 2025. The recent forum was specifically designed to bridge the gap between high-level political pledges and on-the-ground business realities, uniting government officials and private sector leaders to unlock practical investment avenues.
During the sessions, delegates reviewed advancements on more than 33 active agreements centered on cross-border transportation and broader economic development. The dialogue resulted in the formal adoption of critical decisions and the signing of multiple new legal instruments across diverse cooperative sectors.
President Ramaphosa stressed that these newly signed commitments must now be actualized through concrete measures that yield real-world benefits for citizens. He pointed out that bilateral trade volume has nearly doubled over the last four years, signaling vast untapped potential.
“Inclusive economic growth will give us the means to widen access to food, to shelter, to health, education, water and sanitation for our people,” Ramaphosa remarked, noting that such growth is the primary driver for job creation and new economic opportunities. He added that the visible political alignment demonstrated during the summit should inspire businesses and partners from both nations to invest with renewed enthusiasm.
Reinforcing this collaborative spirit, President Emmerson Mnangagwa reaffirmed that Zimbabwe remains unequivocally open for business. He pledged his administration’s dedication to dismantling all tariff and non-tariff trade barriers. Furthermore, Mnangagwa assured that Zimbabwe is prepared to actively address and resolve any operational hurdles encountered by South African companies working within its borders. He emphasized that the national mantra of being “open for business” is a direct reflection of their dedication to enhancing the ease of doing business and cultivating robust cross-border investment partnerships.
This bilateral push for economic alignment arrives as the broader Southern African region accelerates initiatives to fortify regional integration, industrialization, and localized value chains. The summit also takes place against a backdrop of heightened migration tensions within South Africa, where recent months have seen xenophobic violence and deportation operations impacting thousands of foreign nationals, Zimbabweans included.
Wrapping up the proceedings, both heads of state underscored the profound social and cultural bonds that connect their populations, transcending mere commercial transactions. To cement this shared vision for the future, Ramaphosa and Mnangagwa agreed to actively leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a primary vehicle to further scale and increase bilateral trade.
