Zim/Kenya JPCC ends with several draft MOUs

Harare, (New Ziana)-Zimbabwe and Kenya on Tuesday concluded several MoUs on co-operation which will see bilateral relations between the two countries going a gear up.

Senior officials from the two countries exchanged draft MoUs whose signing their leaders, Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and William Ruto will witness at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) later this week.

President Ruto will officially open the ZITF after he was invited by his Zimbabwean counterpart.

The draft MOUs include agriculture; science and technology development; education; health; media, affordable housing and many others.

Addressing the fourth session of the Zimbabwe -Kenya Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation held here, Foreign Affairs and International trade Minister Frederick Shava said draft MoUs from the economic and social sectors that had been exchanged between the two countries in various fields, hold promise for mutual benefit.

“We have already proved our efficiency and effectiveness through the finalisation of the following MoUs, which include:Draft MoU on Cooperation in the Field of Health;Draft MoU on Proposed collaboration between the Zimbabwe Public Service Academy and the Kenya School of Government; Draft MoU on Science, Technology and Innovation; MoU on Investment Promotion Facilitation between Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) and its Kenyan counterpart, KenInvest; and draft MoU on Cooperation in the Field of Basic Education, Training and Research. Co-Chair, The framework of our Joint Commission is already on an expansionary path,” he said.

Shava said officials would use the opportunity to open discussions on new frontiers of cooperation.

“One specific area is the recent proposal by the Public Service Academy of Zimbabwe to collaborate with the Kenya School of Government. This proposed partnership was part of the academy’s efforts to internationalize and work together with similar institutions, with a view to strengthen its institutional capacity to provide the required competencies that are needed by members of the Public Service to better discharge their duties. I am therefore pleased to announce that this particular Draft MoU is finally ready for signature,” he said.

The minister was however concerned that economic activity between Zimbabwe and Kenya remained low.

“In the economic sector, though the volumes of bilateral trade remain worryingly low, I am encouraged that we are now witnessing an evolving working relationship between our national trade facilitating agencies, Zim-Trade and the Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency. We should build on this foundation to leap frog joint efforts towards the harmonization of product standards so as to reduce the barriers to the smooth flow of trade,” said Shava.

Kenya’s prime Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs,
Musalia Mudavadi said he was encouraged by the progress made by the two countries so far in exploring new areas of cooperation such as science, technology and innovation, maritime and blue economy, energy, water and irrigation, urban development, among others.

“As ministers, we welcome the proposal by the senior officials to elevate relations between our two countries from the current Joint Permanent Commission for Cooperation to a binational commission. The binational commission, which will be chaired at the Heads of state level, will further strengthen cooperation between the two countries.

“As we embark on this journey together, let us remember the importance of collaboration and unity in achieving our shared goals through concerted efforts and mutual respect. We can bring about significant advancements that will positively impact the lives of our citizens.My delegation and I look forward to the benefits that will be derived from this meeting with the compelling aspiration to strengthen and deepen bilateral relations between Kenya and Zimbabwe,” he said.

Since inception in 1989, Zimbabwe- Kenya-Zimbabwe Joint Permanent Commission for Cooperation, relations between the two countries have continued to blossom as evidenced by the exchange of visits at the highest level.

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