Visiting South African President, Jacob Zuma has disclosed that Zambia is his country’s top trading partner on the African continent.
And Zambia and South African have today signed six Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) in the areas of health, agriculture, energy, mining, commerce and foreign affairs.
Mr. Zuma said South Africa was happy with the improved trade relations, noting that this would enhance further the already existing warm trade relations between the two countries.
He said the two countries already have well established trade relationship which however should be strengthened further to enhance their economic stamina.
He was speaking at State House in Lusaka today before and after holding private bilateral talks with President Rupiah Banda.
“We are generally happy with the direction that our trade relations are taking. In 2008, Zambia became our number one trading partner on the continent,” he said.
President Zuma said the two countries should however explore more investment opportunities for the benefit of their peoples.
Mr. Zuma, who arrived in the country yesterday in the company of eight ministers and a business delegation comprising representatives from 60 companies, said Zambia and South Africa need to cooperate in order to minimize the impact of the global economic recession.
He said South Africa’s major exports to Zambia include mineral oils and fuels, autos and components, chemicals, steel and capital equipment.
President Zuma noted that most of the people in the two countries were poor and marginalized hence the need to find ways of easing their sufferings at the hands of the global economic downturn.
He said the representatives of 60 companies that he has come with were interested in the energy, petroleum, information communication and technology (ICT), infrastructure, financial services, healthcare, mining and agro-processing.
He hoped that business seminars to be held between Zambian and South African business executives would result into stronger bilateral economic cooperation between the two countries.
“We should also work together to strengthen people-to-people contact through cultural, scientific and educational exchange programmes as well as encouraging two-way tourism,” he said.
And President Zuma has praised the Zambian government for promoting the growth of the agricultural sector in the country.
“With regard to agriculture, we congratulate Zambia on the growth of this sector, which has shown improvements despite heavy rains in 2008. This country managed to record a food surplus in the past three years. Thanks to the government’s seed and fertilizer programme,” he said.
The President of South Africa also restated his country’s indebtedness to Zambia for hosting that country’s liberation movements from various countries in the Southern African region.
He said despite meager resources, Zambia significantly assisted other countries in the region to gain their political independence.
“The long-standing Zambian support for the liberation struggle in South Africa led to the growth of deep mutual bonds between the peoples of South Africa and Zambia,” he said.
He was grateful that even after the countries gained political independence, Zambia continued to play an important role in conflict management and resolution in the continent through hosting refugees from many countries.
Meanwhile, Mr. Zuma has said African countries should continue to fight for equality and fairness in international relations in order for Africa to take its rightful place among other continents.
He said African countries should assume a common position and strengthen the international climate regime to ensure global reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
“We will go to Copenhagen next week and strongly push our position as the African continent,” he said.
And President Banda has expressed optimism that Zambia and South Africa would enhance their economic cooperation and growth through the memorandums of understanding (MoUs) which the two countries signed.
He said the MoUs must be implemented accordingly for the benefit of the people in the two countries.
Mr. Banda said the two countries have a lot of work to do in implementing the MoUs successfully and urged ministers in concerned ministries to work hard and ensure the commitments made succeeded.
He said the visit by President Zuma signified how deep the relations between the two countries were.
Meanwhile, Zambia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kabinga Pande and his South African counterpart, signed an MoU on regular diplomatic consultations, while Commerce Minister Felix Mutati and his South African counterpart signed the MoU on trade and industrial cooperation.
Agriculture Minister Brian Chituwo and his South African counterpart signed an MoU on agriculture and livestock farming while Minister of Health Kapembwa Simbao and his South African counterpart signed an MoU on cooperation in the field of health.
Acting Minister of Energy, Ronald Mukuma and Minister of Mines Maxwell Mwale signed MoUs on energy and geology, minerals and mines respectively.
The MoUs are meant to strength cooperation in the six sectors and increase training, exchange of information, technology and technical assistance among other things.
ZANIS
yeah lots of connection between z and sa, whenver you fly to joburg the flight is damn full. but surpringly people are still very poor in both countries.
All PF trolls can hang and roll in insults they rehearse every day,patriotic Zambians and sons of the African soil in one accord will not dishonor a nationalist and truly distinguished and tenacious brother in the struggle for a free Africa and humanity.With both hands the bestowed honors are collectively Zambian and out of our national spirit.
UNZA bestows Zuma with Honorary Doctorate Degree
The University of Zambia (UNZA) has bestowed an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree on South African president Jacob Zuma.
University of Zambia Vice-Chancellor Professor Stephen Simukanga bestowed the degree on Zuma Tuesday afternoon just before Zuma delivered the Inaugural Oliver Reginald Tambo Memorial Lecture at UNZA.
IN accepting the honor, president Zuma said ‘it is important to me that it is bestowed by Zambia, which was responsible for part of my people’s education.’
Now PF kaponyas can roll in spewing insults that the degree should have instead gone to Sata for imparting on them an insulting demon.
No nation can thrive if in absolute isolation which Sata in his xenophobia has been venting.Bilateral relations are very important in any nation state.This is why as citizens, we must encourage our leaders to harness their working ties. If we take time to understand matters at hand, we will realize that this state visit is of high political economy value to both SADC member countries in a gigantic economic block with exploited resources.Matters of trade imbalances, tariffs, quotas, regional security and technology transfer are better deliberated on the platforms such high level meetings create.
Why cant RB emulate zuma the guy is using a airforce plane nganibena pa limpopo fye apa he could have used the presidential jet.
# 5 Veteran with all this bootlicking and praise you give MMD…My main question to you is why does your MMD goverment fail to pay teachers, nurses and doctors proper wages?
Mo taim,
In your reasoning, what is the difference between a none labeled Military Presidential Jet and a military Jet dedicated to Presidential affairs? Articulate what you know about this then i will help you if i see i see your challenges.
Well, as long as it is South Africa they can own the whole of Zambia. That always puts a smile on MMD policy ” nothing must be owned by Zambia.” Out of curiosity in the 19 years of MMD rule in comparison to UNIP has MMD ever built and run any prominent Zambian owned industry.
# 6 whilat I am not a supporter of RB/MMD, please be aware that the “Air force” plane is in fact The official SA “Presidential Jet”, as in the same way Obama flies in his delegated “Airforce One”. All “Presidential Jets” are in fact under that nation’s airforce fleet. Rich countries are able to interchange their planes but still commandeered under the Airforce. For example I know Obama has more than one Boeing at his disposal, and whichever he flies in is dubbed “Airforce One”; same goes for his helicopter “Marine One”, though commandeered by the Marine Corp. RB’s Challenger is part of the Zambian Airforce Fleet-it is not a State House Plane, and may be used for national defence purposes. The only thing is the Challenger does not have Air force written on it. Perhaps we ran…
Additionally, how can trade be one sided. South Africa buys Zambian assets…but Zambia after 45 years can not afford to purchase any prominent companies in South Africa.
# 6 whilat I am not a supporter of RB/MMD, please be aware that the “Air force” plane is in fact The official SA “Presidential Jet”, as in the same way Obama flies in his delegated “Airforce One”. All “Presidential Jets” are in fact under that nation’s airforce fleet. Rich countries are able to interchange their planes but still commandeered under the Airforce. For example I know Obama has more than one Boeing at his disposal, and whichever he flies in is dubbed “Airforce One”; same goes for his helicopter “Marine One”, though commandeered by the Marine Corp. RB’s Challenger is part of the Zambian Airforce Fleet-it is not a State House Plane, and may be used for national defence purposes. The only thing is the Challenger does not have Air force written on it…
windfall tax,
Unless your life is shaped by a paycheck without an idea of how decision for enumeration scale is reached, I’m not amuse me with your question.Anyone who runs his own business, works on policy desk or a product of some business school understand such basic economic principles.You are in the USA, can you take interest in basic economics even at a community college if you can’t enroll in a University? If all this is not practical for many reasons, i can recommend one book to help you pick up these basic fundamentals.You don’t just work from your dream like Sata and HH are doing that i will make every Zambian of the 11.8million employed instantly start earning a minimum of ZK3.5 million.In 90 days build new Universities & Hospitals in every chiefdom & distance of 100…
mean : you have not amused me with your question.
This forum is full of african *****s Zambia is a Banana Republic, All your supermarkets are filled with South African goods,Even frozen vegetables are from South Africa.Zuma coming to Zambia so they can continue creating jobs in RSA while Zambians continue to consume whatever they produce.Wake up think and be men.
Does SA still send interpol to Zambia to reclaim all the stolen nice cars which are usually stolen from hire purchase and sold to zambians?
mushnu wa mushinu wa mushinu wa mushinuwa
Top trading partner? Zambia is SA’s top dumping ground. The facts speak for themselves.
#13 FYI Veteran I have a qualification and worked in management abroad…. my vast experience in life has taught me any fool can have a qualification. However, if they are greedy and do not make policies in the best interest of a country, it’s people or company. It does not work…Ironically, living paycheck to paycheck is the position MMD is putting Zambians long term. My question is Zambia has had MMD rule for 19 years… the GDP has grown…use your bootlicking style to convince them to trickle the wealth to the community. Maybe they can increase the wages of teachers, doctors and nurses. Surely, your knowledge in “economics” has told you losing teachers and nurses in Z is not a solution for growth. Yes, with the right leaders and policies job creation is possible in Zambia.
#19 Mind typo error . I meant qualifications do not help when leaders are greedy and do not make policies that are in the best interest of it’s people.
Ha! reps from 60 companies, even soweto market will be 4 enfestors, grab our weak kwacha, send back to their home n enventually close down, just like supreme, ackermans etc. More tasteless oranges! The Bombay guys r good coz they stay. Y not promote our locals?
Yeah ! # 8 and 10 prob you are right on that and i have no argument it is good to know
Zambia’s export partners –
China 14.2%, South Africa 8.5%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 8.1%, Saudi Arabia 7.9%, South Korea 7.9%, Egypt 7.7%, Italy 6.9%, Belgium 4.1% (2008)
Zambia’s import partners –
South Africa 51.7%, UAE 8%, China 6.8%, India 4.5% (2008)
This data is from CIA World Factbook
I dont what Zuma meant when he said Zambia is SA’s top trading partners. Because just in the Southern region Zimbabwe is number one trading partner with SA. Ba economists please highlight me on this one.
why was Zuma conferred with a degree by UNZA yesterday? What has he done so far?
Exactly my point on the other topic yesterday #25. We are all falling over promises. And yes # 24 Zuma speaks to suit audience even here in SA we know that by now. He will go Zim , just watch the space and say exactly that “Zim is our top trading partner”. I like what one of the bloggers here said and I reinforce, we should be focusing on “Buy Zambian”. All these 60 companies are just looking for a market and by the way, land, Land is an issue here so Zuma might ask RB for a favor in allowing most agro business to come use land that side.It was reported that countries like DRC and Congo have already agreed. Why not empower our people to create jobs not consumers. Can we honestly be importing tomatoes, onions, potatoes, etc.
ZUMA-ZAMBIA-ZAMTEL-TELKOM
OK JUST JOKING
Zambia Top Trading partner? kutusetting nomba uku..we are there top dumping partner..check around & you will see for yourself..evrything is ‘Made in RSA’..even sugar plantation they are about to commission in Mazabuka has some links..naleka!!!
Imagine – he lists all the things which SA exports to Z. There’s no list of what Z exports to SA because it doesn’t exist. What kind of partnership is that..? Should we be grateful we have the opportunity to work for big “international” companies like Shoprite and Spar. Atase…
slumdog shalaz naimwe get your facts.the cars that u are talking about finds themselves in zambian people hands with people believing the bought genuinely .the car dealers in south africa created this ,that is one reason why u clear a car at the boarder today .and if u dont then chances are it is stolen and u the owner knows,other than that ZRA ,the people u bought the car from must refund u before the intepol take it.the IT system is so good that i see all my details from south africa like change of adress,everytime iam on the zambian side.so see the whole picture ,mwilasebanya ichalo.and for the trade south africa is highly rated in the world when it comes to mining.so there is serious technological transfer between zed and south.whose benefit is obvious.
we helped south africa and now that south africa is free what do u propose we trade with china.or india .that was expensive and not sustainable.when south african blacks were poor ,zambia was so concerned ,now that they are well off,we are like forget about them ,that is cheap and so foolish a way to live.we helped them ,so them must help us now.and that is what zuma is saying.and we are ready for help that is what a prudent govt should say.our situation of imbalance in trade can not be overcome by politics.it is development .every way we can look,it will be the same. zuma we owner you because that is what we always wanted.we disowned botha because of u.ha ha h a