Zambia has given 9,000 metric tons of maize to Zimbabwe as part of its pledged support to ease the difficulties the country has been going through.
President Rupiah disclosed this today during a joint press briefing with his Zimbabwean counterpart Robert Mugabe held at Rainbow Towers at the end of President Banda’s four-day state visit to Zimbabwe.
The intervention is part of Zambia’s contribution to Zimbabwe’s economic recovery programme as agreed at the recent SADC summit in Swaziland.
President Banda said the agriculture minister Brian Chituwo is making arrangements to have the maize shipped to Zimbabwe as soon as possible.
Zambia is also to avail a further 1,000 metric tons which Zimbabwe bought some time ago, but instead of Zambia shipping the maize to Zimbabwe it mistakenly delivered the grain to Swaziland.
“We have also discovered in our books that we owe you about 1,000 metric tons of maize. The maize was bought for Zimbabwe a long time ago, but instead of shipping it to you, we shipped it to Swaziland,” Mr. Banda said.
The President said despite Zambia’s financial position being impacted negatively by the slump in copper prices, it will fulfill the pledged assistance made during the SADC summit three weeks ago in Mbabane, Swaziland.
“As you are aware we were doing well when copper prices were very high, unfortunately the prices of copper dropped down from about US$9,000 to less than US$ 3,000. We are being impacted negatively by the low metal prices the mainstay of our economy,” he said.
The President said all the same Zambia will not agree to be left behind in assisting Zimbabwe because there is need to show that the two countries support each other.
The President said Commerce minister Felix Mutati is also working out a credit facility with Zambian banks which would assist Zimbabwean companies credit facility that will enable a Zambian company to supply veterinary medicines to Zimbabwe.
President Banda said this idea follows the instruction by President Mugabe to his agriculture minister to see how a Zambian company that was exhibiting at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair could supply veterinary medicines to Zimbabwe.
“We were walking around the trade fair stands and President Mugabe asked his minister if he was aware that Zambia was producing the veterinary medicine. Mr Mugabe told his minister to see how this Zambian company would supply veterinary medicine to Zimbabwe,” President Banda said.
He said since it would be very expensive to finance this project, it was his view that the ministers of commerce arrange for a credit facility from the central banks of the two countries.
On development, President Banda said he looks forward to see Zambia and Zimbabwe combining efforts in enhancing business between the people of the two countries.
He said Zambia would encourage its people to go to Zimbabwe to invest in various businesses adding that the minister of commerce and industry remains keen to open the way so that this dream is realised.
He said Zambia has also received pledges from the international community for infrastructure development that will connect the countries Zambia, Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
President Banda expressed hope that the economy of Zimbabwe would soon get back to its glory days because the country still has its infrastructure intact while the people are well educated.
“In my opinion, this economy cannot take long to fix. This country has intact infrastructure and its people are educated,” he said.
The President said he is keen to see Zimbabwe people, who are good cattle farmers, to come to Zambia and utilise the water and grazing land for cattle ranching.
“We went to Gwanda yesterday and I was talking to a ranch farmer whom I told that he should come and look at investing in cattle ranching in Zambia because it has land water and grass good for cattle pasture,” he said.
The Zambian head of state also invited Zimbabwean companies to participate in the forth coming Zambia International Trade Fair in Ndola.
At the same occasion President Robert Mugabe commended his Zambian counterpart for accepting the invitation to come and officiate at Zimbabwe International Trade fair that closed today.
President Mugabe said the visit had opened a new chapter of relations between the two countries.
The Zimbabwean leader said Zambia and Zimbabwe need to pull their resources together to withstand the prevailing global economical crisis.
He said the two countries should adopt a more collaborative rather than a competitive approach in fostering economic development.
Also in attendance at the Press Conference were the two first ladies Thandiwe Banda and Grace Mugabe, commerce minister Felix Mutati, his agriculture counterpart Dr Brian Chituwo and other high ranking Zambian and Zimbabwean government officials.
President Banda arrived in Zimbabwe on Wednesday during which prime among other engagements, he officially opened the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo.
Mr Banda also visited Gwanda district south of Bulawayo where he was born 72 years ago.
He has since returned home.
ENDS/IMD/AM/ZANIS
