SA, Zimbabwe must move beyond traditional trade: Ramaphosa

President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa and Zimbabwe need to move beyond traditional trade and deepen investment and industrial cooperation.

He was speaking at the South Africa-Zimbabwe Business Forum in Midrand .

The President has highlighted an imbalance in bilateral trade.

“Through the Africa Continental Free Trade Area, we can expand trade between our two countries, or African countries as a whole.

We can put our natural resources to better use.

We can develop our industries and create more jobs for our people.

That is why we welcome the strong presence of South African and Zimbabwean businesses at this forum.

Governments can determine policy.

We can sign agreements, as we did today, and we can ratify protocols.

But it is business that turns a signed agreement between two governments into a shipment, into a factory or a job.” His Excellency President @CyrilRamaphosa and His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa of the Republic of Zimbabwe arrive at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand for the South Africa–Zimbabwe Bi-National Commission Business Forum.

The Forum brings together government… pic.twitter.com/q1JsxmtSnV — The Presidency (@PresidencyZA) August 21, 2026 Meanwhile, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa is calling for deeper economic partnerships with South Africa, beyond simply trading goods and services.

He says businesses should focus on co-investment, innovation and developing projects that can benefit the wider region.

“The next step is to deepen collaboration by co-investing, fostering joint research between universities, advancing technological innovation through scientists and engineers, and mobilising financiers to support regional high-impact priority projects.

Then our businesses can use these partnerships to reach markets beyond Zimbabwe and South Africa.