Officials from Rwanda and Zimbabwe convened in Harare for the Zimbabwe-Rwanda mid-term review meeting of the second Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation (JPCC), commencing on Monday, May 24. The meeting aims to bolster the already strong bilateral relations between the two nations.
In his opening address, Ambassador Albert Chimbindi, the permanent secretary of Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, acknowledged the excellent bilateral relations between Zimbabwe and Rwanda. Represented by Chief Director of Political Affairs Pearson Chigiji, Chimbindi emphasized the growing strength of the relationship between the two countries.
The two-day meeting will cover various topics, including cooperation in trade and investment, tourism, agriculture, mineral resources, exchange of educational personnel and expertise, climate change, and media.
According to the Zimbabwean Government, the review serves as a mechanism to monitor the implementation of various Memoranda of Understanding and other agreements signed during the second session of the Zimbabwe-Rwanda JPCC, held in Rwanda in May 2022.
The first session, conducted virtually from March 16 to March 18, 2021, saw the signing of memorandums of understanding in diplomacy, trade and investment, justice, media, communication, and publicity. The two sides also explored new areas of bilateral cooperation, including finance, defense, environment, natural resources, agriculture, science and technology, and tourism.
Key bilateral cooperation instruments, such as an extradition treaty and the MoU on immigration, were signed in July 2022, complementing other legal instruments previously agreed upon.
Trade relations between Rwanda and Zimbabwe are on the rise, with creative platforms established to enhance business cooperation between the two countries.
In the realm of social affairs, the dispatch of over 156 teachers and lecturers to Rwanda under the MoU on the Exchange of Educational Personnel and Expertise exemplifies the commitment to joint initiatives.
The conclusion of the MoU on cooperation in the field of energy in 2019 paved the way for an inter-utility partnership between the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA Holdings) and Rwanda Energy Group (REG), focusing on various areas of cooperation under the total electrification programme.
Both countries share a mutual desire to strengthen and deepen their relations, evident in the ongoing collaboration across multiple sectors.
