Wallace Ruzvidzo
Herald Reporter
ZIMBABWE and South Africa continue to strengthen cooperation at all levels, from Heads of State to Government institutions and political parties, in pursuit of sustained development and shared prosperity, African National Congress Treasurer-General Dr Gwen Ramokgopa has said.
Dr Ramokgopa, who is in Zimbabwe on party business, said this yesterday after paying a courtesy call on President Mnangagwa at State House in Harare.
Speaking to the media after her closed-door meeting with the President, she said the two neighbouring countries enjoy enduring fraternal relations rooted in their shared liberation history and continue to learn from each other across various sectors.
“We have very strong fraternal relations, historically forged in the struggle for freedom of the two countries,” said Dr Ramokgopa.
“Indeed, we continue exchanging ideas on a number of areas — at the State level, Government-to-Government levels, and also at party-to-party level,” she said.
“So, the two countries can definitely learn from each other.”
She noted that while both nations face development challenges, there are also areas where Zimbabwe has made notable progress, particularly in infrastructure development.
“As I was flying over the Limpopo River, I could see that on the South African side of the border post, we still have a lot of infrastructure work to do, whereas Zimbabwe is quite ahead. So, we are inspired,” she said.
Dr Ramokgopa underlined the need for liberation movements across Africa to work together and encourage citizens to actively contribute to the continent’s development, noting that “we are not yet where we want to be”.
“We need to collaborate with many fraternal organisations and friends,” she said.
Turning to the main purpose of her visit, Dr Ramokgopa said she was in Zimbabwe to meet ZANU PF Treasurer-General Cde Patrick Chinamasa to explore ways of mobilising progressive businesses to support the respective party initiatives in both countries.
“I am now en route to meet my counterpart to discuss details.
“I am here to meet with the Zanu PF, our counterpart in the African National Congress (ANC) . . . so I feel at home, and I look forward to very positive deliberations with my counterpart.
“ . . . indeed, it was a very positive, courteous visit to His Excellency,” said Dr Ramokgopa.
Dr Ramokgopa, who is also a medical doctor and academic, reflected on Zimbabwe’s strong post-independence healthcare system, which she said inspired her early in her career.
“As a health professional myself, when I was a young student, I was inspired by the strong public health system, especially the primary health care system that Zimbabwe built post-liberation,” she said.
“And I have made a commitment also to continue collaborations around that, so that health becomes one of the key deliverables of our (ANC) term and our contemporary priorities.”
Zimbabwe and South Africa maintain long-standing diplomatic, economic and historical ties, with regular engagements between the governments and ruling parties aimed at deepening regional integration.
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