South Africa and Zimbabwe Sign 7 MoUs at Fourth BNC Session in Pretoria
- South Africa and Zimbabwe concluded their Fourth Bi-National Commission session in Pretoria, co-chaired by Presidents Ramaphosa and Mnangagwa
- The two countries signed multiple agreements spanning correctional services, agriculture, energy, trade, and cultural heritage
- A formal MoU on interstate prisoner transfers was among the deals signed, with both governments setting implementation ahead of the Fifth BNC session as a priority
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PRETORIA — South Africa and Zimbabwe have formalised a broad package of bilateral agreements following the conclusion of the Fourth Session of the South Africa-Zimbabwe Bi-National Commission (BNC), held in Pretoria and co-chaired by President Cyril Ramaphosa and Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
As shared by a report from the SA government, the session produced multiple signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and legal agreements spanning correctional services, diplomacy, gender equality, agriculture, energy, mining, and cultural heritage.
SA-Zimbabwe prisoner transfer agreement
Among the most notable agreements was an MoU on the interstate transfer of sentenced offenders, signed on 21 August 2026 by South Africa's Minister of Correctional Services, Dr Pieter Groenewald, and Zimbabwe's Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Ziyambi Ziyambi.
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The agreement allows eligible nationals from either country to serve the remainder of their sentences in their home countries, closer to their families. South African authorities noted that foreign inmates constitute a significant portion of the population in the country's correctional facilities, placing strain on resources and incurring substantial daily costs per inmate.
Beyond prisoner transfers, the MoU includes provisions for technical cooperation on information management, the exchange of prison data, staff development, and self-sufficiency programmes such as agricultural and industrial production within correctional facilities. The rehabilitation principle underpinning the agreement holds that sustained family contact reduces the likelihood of reoffending.
Trade, infrastructure, and regional integration
On the economic front, President Ramaphosa identified agriculture and agro-processing, energy, mining, transportation, pharmaceuticals, finance, and digital technology as priority sectors for joint investment.
President Mnangagwa, for his part, committed to addressing both tariff and non-tariff barriers affecting South African businesses operating in Zimbabwe, and prioritised the development of a One-Stop Border Post as well as the construction of the Third Limpopo Bridge to ease the cross-border movement of goods and people.
Both delegations agreed to reduce dependence on distant external markets by building cross-border manufacturing value chains and mineral beneficiation projects within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
On the diplomatic and cultural front, Mnangagwa invited South Africa to develop its designated land at the Museum of African Liberation in Zimbabwe, preserving the shared history of anti-apartheid and liberation struggles. He also expressed gratitude for South Africa's backing of Zimbabwe's campaign for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council and its continued advocacy against international sanctions targeting the country.
Both governments stated that the full value of the Fourth BNC session would depend on the timely implementation of all agreements before the Fifth Session convenes.
Source: Getty Images
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Source: Briefly News
