THE inaugural Bi-National Commission (BNC) between Zimbabwe and South Africa opened in Harare yesterday, amid calls by the heads of delegations that agreements and memorandums of understanding signed between the two countries should be implemented within specified timeframes.
BY STAFF REPORTER
The calls came as it emerged that the two countries have 38 bilateral agreements, with some of them never implemented after signing.
The countries have agreements that include trade and investment, immigration and consular matters, defence, agriculture, labour and technological co-operation, among others.
“Our co-operation to date, as recorded from the first to the fifth sessions of the joint commissions, has delivered results. However, it is also true that some plans and programmes have not progressed beyond the signed documents,” Foreign Affairs permanent secretary, Joey Bimha said.
“That must change in the new dispensation of the BNC. As senior officials, we occupy crucial and critical roles and responsibilities in the planning and execution of agreed programmes.”
Head of the South African delegation, Xolisa Makaya, concurred and said the two countries should adopt a results-based approach in their agreements.
“Our deliberations need to be outcomes-based, measurable and achievable, given that the BNC is convened on an annual basis. We should be able to monitor and evaluate progress,” he said.
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“The four clusters of our commission, namely diplomatic, economic, social and security, will allow us a platform to deliberate on sector-specific matters to highlight and underscore our success while, on the other hand, we interrogate whatever impediments that work against our desired outcomes.”
It was also envisaged the tourism and education departments in the two countries would hold bilateral meetings during the BNC.
The South Africans want the countries to also discuss military conflicts on the continent and the growing anti-immigration stance being taken by Europeans.
