His Excellency President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa co chaired the Bi National Commission between Zimbabwe and Mozambique with His Excellency President Daniel Francisco Chapo at the Mozambican State House in Maputo, The two Heads of State underlined that the occasion strengthens the historical relations, brotherhood and cooperation between the peoples of the two nations, transforming liberation era solidarity into a modern, economic and strategic partnership
At the leadership level, President Mnangagwa and President Chapo signalled that the Bi National Commission is a living instrument, not a ceremonial platform, It is the space where the two Heads of State, their ministers and senior officials align priorities in economic cooperation, political coordination, defence collaboration and security sector linkages, Their emphasis on historical bonds framed current decisions as part of a long trajectory from joint liberation struggles to joint development pathways
The Commission recorded several concrete achievements, guided politically by the two Heads of State, Technocrats from both governments reported intensified economic cooperation and stronger partnerships in political, defence and security sectors, Defence and security authorities from Harare and Maputo are building mechanisms to curb cross border crime, terrorism and smuggling, supporting the broader peace and stability on which trade and investment depend
On trade facilitation, border management authorities from Zimbabwe and Mozambique were directed by the two Presidents to accelerate the establishment of the Forbes, Machipanda One Stop Border Post, This initiative is designed to ease congestion, reduce turnaround time for cargo and improve efficiency for customs, immigration, revenue and security services, For line ministries of transport, finance and home affairs in both countries, this becomes a clear mandate to modernise systems and infrastructure at one of the region’s key transit points
The Heads of State also welcomed progress on the establishment of Zimbabwe Dry Port facilities in Mozambique, an initiative driven by ministries responsible for transport, logistics and trade, The Dry Port arrangement effectively extends Zimbabwe’s logistical footprint to Mozambican ports, while enhancing Mozambique’s role as a regional transit hub, This is complemented by the modernisation of the Beira, Harare pipeline, overseen by energy and petroleum authorities, which promises more secure, efficient fuel supply, with positive knock on effects for industry, agriculture and transport in Zimbabwe
Ministries responsible for home affairs and local government were also tasked to facilitate special documentation for inhabitants of border communities, recognising the social and economic realities of people whose lives, families and livelihoods traverse both territories, This directive from the Heads of State places a responsibility on civil registry, immigration and security departments to ease movement while maintaining order and law enforcement
On the diplomatic front, President Mnangagwa used the BNC platform to publicly appreciate Mozambique’s support for Zimbabwe’s bid for a United Nations Security Council non permanent seat for the 2027, 28 period, This gesture reflects coordination between foreign affairs ministries and permanent missions in New York, and illustrates how bilateral relations are being translated into multilateral backing, elevating Zimbabwe’s and Mozambique’s profiles within global governance structures
Social and human development priorities were advanced through the signing of three Memoranda of Understanding, The MoU on Women Empowerment and Gender Equality mandates gender ministries and women’s affairs departments in both countries to deepen collaboration on legal reforms, economic opportunities and leadership pathways for women, The Youth Development MoU places youth ministries and agencies at the centre of joint programmes focusing on skills, entrepreneurship and civic engagement, The SME MoU hands trade and industry ministries, as well as SME agencies, a framework to support small and medium enterprises through joint ventures, knowledge exchange and easier access to regional markets
The symbolic dimension of the visit placed liberation history at the heart of today’s diplomacy, At Heroes Acre in Maputo, President Mnangagwa paid his respects by laying a wreath on the tomb of the unknown soldier and honouring fallen heroes, including Mozambique’s founding leaders, the late President Samora Machel and Eduardo Mondlane, In doing so, he connected the legacy of liberation commanders and freedom fighters to the current responsibilities of Heads of State and defence chiefs who must secure peace and prosperity
Institutional diplomacy was further strengthened when President Mnangagwa visited the Mozambique National Assembly, where he was received by the Speaker of Parliament, Madam Margarida Adamugi Talapa, The engagement between the Head of State and the Speaker highlighted the role of legislatures in giving legal effect to BNC decisions, approving budgets, ratifying agreements and exercising oversight over the executive, President Mnangagwa’s expression of gratitude for Mozambique’s assistance during Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle in this parliamentary setting reinforced the bond between representative institutions of the two nations
The economic and industrial lens of the visit sharpened during the tour of ETG Steel Solutions, a major company responsible for the production of gas pipes of all sizes and shapes, Here, President Mnangagwa, supported by Zimbabwe’s industry and energy officials, assessed opportunities for sourcing industrial inputs from a strategic partner just across the border, The factory’s capacity signals possibilities for future cooperation on gas infrastructure, water and energy projects, with corporate executives and line ministries expected to explore concrete supply agreements
The Mozambique, Zimbabwe Business Forum provided the private sector climax of the trip, Co officiated by President Mnangagwa and President Chapo, the event convened business leaders, investors and officials from trade, industry and finance ministries of both countries, In his address, President Mnangagwa challenged the business sectors of Zimbabwe and Mozambique to leverage BNC outcomes to expand regional value chains, diversify exports and attract investment, He urged them to fully utilise the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA, and turn policy opportunities into enterprises, transport corridors into commerce and cross border partnerships into tangible prosperity
As the visit concluded, with President Mnangagwa departing Maputo for Harare and being seen off at Maputo International Airport by President Chapo, the choreography of protocol underscored the depth of executive, to, executive trust, Beneath the ceremony, however, lay a dense network of responsibilities, Heads of State setting direction, Speakers of Parliament and MPs tasked with lawmaking and oversight, ministers and senior officials responsible for implementation, security chiefs securing peace, and business leaders expected to translate political goodwill into jobs, trade and investment
In that layered architecture, the Maputo Bi National Commission demonstrated that Zimbabwe and Mozambique are not merely celebrating shared history, They are assigning clear roles to their political, parliamentary, security and economic actors to convert that history into structured cooperation, modern infrastructure and inclusive growth that citizens in both countries can see at the border post, feel in fuel security and experience through new business, youth and women centred opportunities
