Harare [Zimbabwe], November 15: Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema on Friday pledged his country's continued support in advocating for the removal of illegal and unilateral sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the West.
Hichilema made the remarks during a one-day working visit to Zimbabwe for the inaugural session of the Zimbabwe-Zambia Bi-National Commission held from Wednesday to Friday in Harare, the Zimbabwean capital.
According to a communique issued at the end of the session, Hichilema said the sanctions are hindering development efforts in Zimbabwe.
While closing the session, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa expressed Zimbabwe's gratitude to Zambia for its stance and consistent calls against the illegal sanctions.
The two neighboring countries, according to the communique, agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation in trade, energy, defense and security, and border management. They also agreed to extend the operating hours at the Victoria Falls and Chirundu border posts between the two countries to 24 hours, effective this December, to facilitate cross-border trade.
"The two countries underscored the importance of enhancing transport connectivity as it is crucial in the promotion of trade and investment," the communique said.
With respect to removing all barriers to trade between the two nations, Zimbabwe announced that its cabinet had passed a decision to scrap transit duties on petroleum products, while measures on other barriers were factored into the country's 2026 national budget to be announced later this month, according to the communique.
During the session, Zimbabwe and Zambia signed several memoranda of understanding covering key areas of bilateral cooperation, including diplomatic training, immigration and technical cooperation, agriculture, and youth development.
Source: Fijian Broadcasting Corporation