Cape Town
Even though Namibia’s economy is small compared to South Africa, President Hage Geingob believes the country remains an important partner to its larger southern African neighbour.
Geingob made the call when he met South African President Jacob Zuma at his Cape Town residence on Wednesday.
The President said his one-day visit to South Africa was an opportunity to introduce himself, as Namibian leader, and to inform Zuma of his availability and openness to engage in consultations on ways in which Namibia and South Africa can move forward, especially economically.
“It is therefore important that the two countries move forward in unison towards greater economic development,” Geingob said in a statement made available by the Ministry of International Relations and Co-operation yesterday.
“As neighbours who fought and experienced success against the enemy apartheid in the past, they should once again join hands and fight the biggest enemy remaining, which is poverty,” said Zuma.
According to the statement, the two presidents discussed ways in which the relationship between Namibia and South Africa can be strengthened, including finding ways of taking advantage of the Southern African Development Community (SADC)’s drive towards industrialisation.
Zuma told his Namibian counterpart that given the neighbourly relationship that exists between the two countries, the two may not always adhere to protocol in terms of communication, making it easier for the two leaders to consult on issues of regional, continental or international concern.
South Africa and Namibia have also committed to working closer to eradicate social ills such as poverty and high unemployment in the two countries.
Zuma said because the countries share their histories, doing business between them will be flexible. “We are not going to keep too much protocol given our history. We are going to interact quite flexibly.”
Join hands to fight poverty
Geingob agreed that as the two countries fought similar challenges in the past, they should tackle social issues together.
“We are neighbours, comrades. We were fighting the same enemy…now the biggest enemy remaining is poverty. Therefore, we have to join hands again to fight that enemy, poverty,”
reiterated Geingob.
Bilateral co-operation between the two countries covers a wide range of fields including trade and investment, energy, water, transport, agriculture, science and technology, education, defence and security.
Significant progress, in respect of the bilateral co-operation, has been made over the years, as evidenced by the existence of over 60 agreements and memorandums of understanding.
There is also strong trade co-operation between South Africa and Namibia. For example, in 2014, South Africa exported goods worth R49.1 billion, while Namibia exported goods worth R6.2 billion.
Geingob, who was accompanied by the First Lady Monica Geingos, Peya Mushelenga (the Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation), Dr John Steytler (his special advisor) was expected back in Windhoek yesterday.