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Zamiba, SA sign four memoranda of understanding

Zamiba, SA sign four memoranda of understanding
TATENDA MALAN

ZAMBIA and South Africa have signed four Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) but failed to agree on five others at a meeting held between the two countries’ ministries of Foreign Affairs at Lusaka’s Taj Pamodzi Hotel yesterday. The two countries concluded and signed MoUs on trade and industry, health, science, technology and vocational training, and justice.

The MoUs not signed were on financial matters, tourism, environment, local government and housing, agriculture and energy. This is according to a joint statement issued at the Zambia-South Africa senior officials meeting that ended in Lusaka yesterday. Director for development cooperation and international organisations in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Anne Mtamboh, signed for Zambia while South Africa's chief director for southern Africa in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tselane Mokuena, signed for her country.

Ms Mtamboh said the two countries could not finalise the five MoUs because they needed more time. "I urge the two sides to expeditiously conclude the MoUs for signing by the end of the year," she said. Ms Mokuena said strict deadlines were needed to ensure that the MoUs were signed in time so that the two countries start working on the next ministerial meeting.

Meanwhile, South Africa has asked Zambia to consider her request to conduct the cleansing and healing ceremony for its nationals who lost their lives during the liberation struggle. According to the minutes of senior officials’ meeting of the two countries, South Africa reminded Zambia of the decision of the October 2005 ministerial meeting on the matter. "The Zambian delegation assured the South African delegation that the request would be submitted to the relevant authorities for consideration," the minutes read in part.

On consular matters, both delegations were concerned over the arrests and detention of their respective nationals without notification of their respective diplomatic missions. The Zambian government was concerned over Zambian nationals detained in South Africa who were charged for overstaying.

Labels: MoU, SOUTH AFRICA

posted by MrK @ 2:08 PM