Harare: President Cyril Ramaphosa has arrived in Harare, Zimbabwe, at the invitation of His Excellency Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, for a working visit. The President will also participate as a Guest of Honour in the Official Opening of the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show.

According to South African Government News Agency, the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show is an annual event organised by the Zimbabwe Agricultural Society to facilitate and promote agricultural development in the country. This year, the show is celebrating its 130th Anniversary since its founding in 1895 and will run under the theme ‘Building Bridging: Connecting Agriculture, Industry and Commerce’. In 2024, the show attracted 570 exhibitors, including 13 international exhibitors, and about 230,000 visitors attended the event last year.

The visit provides President Ramaphosa with an opportunity to solidify the cordial relations between South Africa and Zimbabwe, particularly in the economic sector. The Zimbabwe Agricultural Show also aims to promote intra-regional trade and economic integration within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. Zimbabwe is one of South Africa’s main trading partners in the SADC region. In 2024, South Africa exported R69.21 billion worth of goods to Zimbabwe, compared to R57.5 billion in 2023, with vegetables being the main exports, contributing R11.9 billion to the total exports.

In terms of imports, South Africa imported R5.4 billion worth of goods from Zimbabwe in 2024, compared to R4.4 billion in 2023. Over 120 South African companies operate in Zimbabwe across sectors including mining, aviation, tourism, banking, property, retail, construction, and fast food.

Former President Nelson Mandela also attended the event as a Guest of Honour on 26 August 1994. During this working visit, President Ramaphosa is supported by the Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Alvin Botes, and senior government officials.