PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa and his South African counterpart are set to meet in Beitbridge today for bilateral talks in relation to their shared border.
This is the first time the two leaders were meeting at the border post, which is the busiest in the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) region.
Presidential spokesperson George Charamba said the two presidents’ meeting on the Zimbabwean side will allow Ramaphosa to appreciate the Beitbridge border facelift.
“Zimbabwe has developed its side of the border which SA plans to do on their side,” said Charamba.
“The development of their (SA) side border should commensurate with our side.
“Mnangagwa invited Ramaphosa and there will be a tour of our border post by the two presidents. The SA side should match the Zimbabwean side.”
He said Mnangagwa invited Ramaphosa during the recent United Nations Summit in New York.
Zimbabwe, which upgraded its side of the border post at a cost of US$300 million, is South Africa’s biggest trading partner. Millions of documented and undocumented citizens also reside in the neighbouring country
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A media notice by the SA government said Ramaphosa will also preside over the launch of the Border Management Authority (BMA) in Musina, Limpopo province.
“The launch of the BMA follows its formal establishment and assumption of its status as a schedule 3(A) public entity on 1 April 2023.
“The establishment of the BMA means that South Africa now has an integrated border management platform, with a single command and control with which to support the attainment of secure borders, safe travel and trade,” reads the notice.
There was heavy security presence in Beitbridge yesterday and a section of the border post was closed to traffic ahead of the visit by the two leaders.
In 1995, the late presidents Robert Mugabe and Nelson Mandela met in Beitbridge on the occasion of the official opening of the New Limpopo Bridge, Africa's first build-operate-transfer project.
