Staff Reporter
President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his Zambian counterpart, President Hakainde Hichilema held bilateral talks on developmental partnership between the two countries.
On his official Twitter handle, President Hichilema confirmed holding discussions with President Mnangagwa on the side-lines of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) 42nd Summit in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The two Presidents discussed issues that include, the Batoka Gorge Hydro Power Station, Kazungula One Stop Border Post and modernising the railway network between South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
“On the sidelines at the SADC Summit, we held bilateral talks with His Excellency President Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe. We discussed the Batoka Gorge Hydro Power Station, Kazungula one stop border post and modernising our railway network from South Africa to DRC and other projects that benefit our people,” posted President Hichilema.
These bilateral discussions come at a time Zimbabwe is working to become self-sufficient in the energy sector due increased demand as a result of rapid expansion in the mining and agricultural sectors. Other energy projects that Zimbabwe is engaged in include the expansion of Hwange Power Station Units seven and eight currently under way. Zimbabwe has also developed Mini-Power plants at various in land lakes like Lake Gwayi-Shangani.
Meanwhile, the late former President of Zimbabwe, Robert Gabriel Mugabe and other SADC founding fathers were honoured with awards at the 42nd Summit. These former Heads of States were honoured by the block as a reminder of the role that the regional founding fathers played in furtherance of their collective legacy. These posthumous awards were collected by the spouses and children of the former leaders. The award for the late former Zimbabwean President was collected by his wife former First Lady Grace Mugabe.
Zimbabwe and Zambia are fraternal twins since the days of liberation struggle when Zambia hosted the former’s ZANLA and ZIPRA liberation fighters. The two countries also share a joint ownership of the Kariba Hydro Power Station in Kariba. These two countries also shared the same name Rhodesia with the Zambia being Northern Rhodesia and Zimbabwe being Southern Rhodesia. It is to this effect that the West is also trying frantically to put a wall between the two countries.
