Ayesha Nyanzunda
The Zambian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has announced that President Hakainde Hichilema will undertake a State Visit to the Republic of Zimbabwe on 14 November 2025 at the invitation of President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa.
According to a statement from the Ministry, the two Heads of State will co-chair the Inaugural Session of the Zambia–Zimbabwe Bi-National Commission (BNC). The BNC upgrades the existing Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation (JPCC) to a higher framework of strategic engagement, underscoring the shared vision of both leaders to strengthen bilateral cooperation, accelerate joint infrastructure projects, and deepen economic integration between the two nations.
The BNC process will be preceded by a Meeting of Senior Officials on 12 November 2025 and a Ministerial Meeting on 13 November 2025, where groundwork for agreements to be considered during the inaugural session will be laid.
Through this framework, Zambia and Zimbabwe aim to enhance collaboration in key sectors including trade, energy, and transport — areas critical to regional development and economic transformation.
The Ministry highlighted that the visit reflects the deep and enduring bonds of friendship, shared history, and mutual respect between the two nations. Zambia and Zimbabwe, it noted, are bound by geography, culture, and shared assets such as the Kariba Dam, Victoria Falls, and regional transport networks vital to socio-economic progress.
In a follow-up communication, Zambia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mulambo Haimbe, S.C., M.P., reaffirmed the government’s commitment to advancing the country’s bilateral and regional relations in line with President Hichilema’s vision to promote peace, stability, and economic transformation through diplomacy.
President Hichilema is expected to return to Lusaka immediately following the conclusion of his engagements in Harare.