Breaking News
Login
Pan African Visions

Zimbabwean president arrives in South Africa for state visit

April 08, 2015

By LYNSEY CHUTEL*

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Zimbabwe's president has arrived in South Africa for his first official state visit in more than 20 years.

[caption id="attachment_17369" align="alignleft" width="257"]Zimbabwean president, Robert Mugabe, front, and his wife Grace, rear, arrive in Pretoria, South Africa Tuesday, April 7, 2015 for a state visit to the country. Mugabe will be in the country until Thursday and will meet with South African president Jacob Zuma Wednesday.(AP Photo) Zimbabwean president, Robert Mugabe, front, and his wife Grace, rear, arrive in Pretoria, South Africa Tuesday, April 7, 2015 for a state visit to the country. Mugabe will be in the country until Thursday and will meet with South African president Jacob Zuma Wednesday.(AP Photo)[/caption]

President Robert Mugabe arrived with his wife, Grace, on Tuesday at the Waterkloof air force base outside the capital Pretoria.

"This is a bilateral visit," said Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana-Mashabane. "The focus is largely on consolidation of our bilateral ties."

One of the main aims of Mugabe's visit is strengthen economic cooperation between Zimbabwe and its wealthier neighbor, South Africa, according to an earlier statement by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation.

Mugabe will visit the Union Buildings, the seat of South Africa's government, on Wednesday where the two presidents will sign an agreement to increase trade. South Africa's exports to Zimbabwe amount to about $2 billion dollars, while in contrast Zimbabwe exports goods worth about $170 million to South Africa.

Mugabe has visited South Africa on other occasions, such as presidential inaugurations and the state funeral of South Africa's first black president, Nelson Mandela in 2013.

*Source AP/Yahoo]]>

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Pan African Visions
African campaigners take aim at immovable leaders
April 06, 2015 Prev
Pan African Visions
Burkinabe judge to try Chad's Habre for atrocities
April 08, 2015 Next