Bernard Mutambudzi
Government has entered an exclusive Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Agriculture with South Africa which is expected to revolutionalise the sector for the two countries.
Giving his closing remarks at the third session of the Zimbabwe-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Harare yesterday, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the two countries shared the same climate conditions, hence there was need to increase close cooperation in the field of Agriculture.
Zimbabwe and South Africa in 2017 in the second BNC held in Pretoria, proposed 46 MOUs across various economic sectors, as the two countries forge ahead in bilateral relations following the ascendancy of President Mnangagwa last year.
Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement, Chief Air Marshal (Retired), Perrence Shiri witnessed the signing of the agreements while South Africa was represented by Mr Senzeni Zokwana who is the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
The MOU is expected to guide a new thrust focused on training small and large-scale farmers on measures to improve yields.
This comes as President Mnangagwa has declared that agriculture is key to economic turnaround of the country.
President Mnangagwa envisages a situation where the country retains to the region’s bread basket status where it was in charge of the food security cluster in SADC.
Speaking after the signing of the MOU, President Mnangagwa said support from South Africa was most welcome.
“We want to reach a situation whereby we can canvass for more support for other projects we have in the country,” President Mnangagwa said.
“Today we have signed this MOU to allow us to cooperate with South Africa in the areas of Agriculture. We expect more from other sectors like mining, engineering, ICT and manufacturing among others,” he said.
President Mnangagwa encouraged the two relevant Ministers to continue getting in touch so that the signed deal drives the economy.
“Zimbabwe is an agricultural country and mechanizing agriculture will translate to producing more and we will be able to export more and we will be able to achieve the food security of our country,” said the President.
