The Sunday News
Judith Phiri, Sunday News Reporter
THE Mozambique, Zimbabwe Joint Permanent Commission for Defence and Security has reiterated its call for the lifting of sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by Western countries.
Zimbabwe was slapped with illegal economic sanctions by the US and European Union nearly two decades ago after it embarked on the fast-track land reform that sought to address land ownership imbalances. The illegal sanctions have suffocated the economy as Zimbabwe cannot access lines of credit from global financial institutions.
The 12th session of the Mozambique, Zimbabwe Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security was held in Maputo from 13 to 15 October. The Mozambican delegation was led by the Minister of National Defence Jaime Bessa Augusto Neto, Minister of Home Affairs Amade Miquidade, Director General of National Intelligence and Security Service (SISE) Julio dos Santos Jane, and other senior Defence and Security officials.
The Zimbabwean delegation was led by Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, Minister of State for the National Security Owen Ncube, Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Kazembe Kazembe, and other senior Defence and Security officials.
In a statement the Commission said: “The Commission condemned in the strongest terms the continued imposition of illegal economic sanctions on Zimbabwe by the West and called for their unconditional lifting.”
The Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa has been on an engagement and re-engagement drive aimed at ending the country’s isolation and the efforts are beginning to pay dividends.
The Commission congratulated the President of the Republic of Mozambique, His Excellency Filipe Jacinto Nyusi and the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, His Excellency Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa for their unrelenting efforts under Sadc framework, in combating terrorism in the Province of Cabo Delgado.
Part of the statement read that the Commission reviewed progress in the implementation of the decisions of the 11th Session of the Zimbabwe, Mozambique Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security, held in Harare, Republic of Zimbabwe, from 04 to 08 March 2019. It noted with satisfaction the efforts made in implementing the decisions, in spite of constraints occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The Commission reiterated the need for enhancing cooperation in training, exchange visits, sporting and cultural exchanges, the fight against terrorism and other forms of transnational organised crimes, such as cyber-crime, drug and human trafficking, poaching, smuggling of precious minerals and other commodities, vehicle and stock theft,” read part of the statement.
It said that the Commission underscored the need for the two countries’ Defence and Security sectors to enhance their collaboration in training, border patrol, intelligence sharing, correctional activities, use of technological tools to enhance cooperation and combat crime, and exchange visits, among other bilateral activities.
The Zimbabwean delegation extended an invitation to its Mozambican counterpart to attend the 13th Session of the Zimbabwe, Mozambique Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security, to be held in Zimbabwe in August 2022, on a venue to be advised.
