Media Statement on President Mbeki's State Visit to Mozambique

President Thabo Mbeki, on the invitation of Mozambique's President Chissano will travel to Mozambique on a State Visit from Thursday, 2nd - Friday, 3rd May 2002.

The President will be accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and other senior government officials.

Issues to be raised include the status of bilateral relations between the two countries; development relating to SADC; the transformation of the OAU to the AU; regional, global and multilateral matters of interest and concern; the World Summit on Sustainable Development; and NEPAD.

South Africa and Mozambique share a common history with Mozambique's own liberation struggle against Portuguese colonialism and the country's active support of the liberation struggle against the South African apartheid regime.

Since 1994, both countries have entered into new democratic constitutional dispensations and have played leading roles, with President Chissano as chair of the Conflict Resolution Organ of SADC, in regional initiatives aimed at securing peace and stability in the region and beyond.

South Africa and Mozambique have, especially since 1994, enjoyed close bilateral relations. These bilateral relations are characterised by a high - intensity of co-operation in various spheres, underpinned by, inter alia, regular visits on official, Ministerial, Presidential and Parliamentary level, i.e. various Portfolio Committees.

Presidents Mandela and Chissano on 20 July 1994, during the first State Visit of South Africa's democracy, entered into the RSA/Mozambique Joint Permanent Commission for Co-operation (JPCC), which established the legal framework for South Africa's bilateral relations with Mozambique.

Utilising the JPCC as an enabling mechanism, more than 20 Agreements covering various spheres of co-operation, inter alia, Fisheries; the Maputo Harbour; Agricultural development; Natural Gas Trade; Demining; the Maputo Development Corridor; a Joint Water Commission, Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments and Customs Administration, have been entered into.

The establishment during 1997 of the quarterly Heads of State Economic Bilateral meetings between Presidents Mbeki and Chissano, supported by the relevant Ministers, have ensured the successful implementation of a number of macro-economic projects in Mozambique in support of the expansion of Mozambique's economy.

Examples of these multi-billion Rand projects include, inter alia, the Maputo Development Corridor, the Mozal 1 Aluminium Smelter in Maputo and the Sasol Gas pipeline development. Further, South Africa, by the end of 2001, implemented economic projects and sourced investments to the amount of R 9 billion, with a potential for an additional investment of R 9 billion.

During 2001, South Africa surpassed Portugal as the major investor in the Mozambican economy and enjoys a massive trade balance in its favour in respect of Mozambique. Figures for 2001 reflect that South African exports to Mozambique amounted to R 5 389 956, whilst imports amounted to R 283 874. Mozambique is also currently South Africa's major trading partner in Africa.

In addition, the South African National Defence Force, during the 1994 and December 1999 General Elections in Mozambique rendered crucial logistical assistance in support of the election processes.
The well-documented life-saving assistance rendered by South Africa, through the deployment of a SANDF Task Team in Mozambique during the devastating1999/2000/2001 seasonal floods in Mozambique, served to further strengthen the close ties between the two countries.

In addition, the South African and Mozambican Governments have been central to both bilateral and multilateral mediation initiatives aimed at resolving regional conflicts and crisis such as those in Lesotho, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola and Zimbabwe.

Mozambique is on record as being one of the strongest proponents of the NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa's Development) and has proved herself as one of the most reliable supporters of the South African Government's policy positions in regional, continental and international multilateral fora.

Mozambique has a High Commission in Pretoria, with Consulates in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Nelspruit, Durban, as well as an application for the opening of a Consulate in Pietersburg/Pholokwane.
The prolonged civil war in Mozambique from the 1970's until the 1990's has left the Government of Mozambique with a devastated economic infrastructure and economy.

Since 1994, the Government of South Africa, supported by the private sector, has identified various areas of possible bilateral co-operation which could promote regional economic integration processes, whilst simultaneously assisting Mozambique with its reconstruction and development programme.

Mozambique, given its strategic geo-political location in relation to South Africa, realised the mutual benefits which could accrue from close co-operation with South Africa in the field of the implementation of macro-economic projects.

In tandem with the electoral support provided by the South African Government in an effort to cement the democratic gains made in that country, the launch of the Maputo Development Corridor during 1996 with a number of macro flagship projects indicated South Africa's commitment to assisting Mozambique in rehabilitating its economic infrastructure. Since 1996 the Maputo Corridor Development Project has raised more than R 35 billion and created approximately 15 000 jobs.

More than 250 South African companies are currently operating in Mozambique representing a diverse spectrum of small, medium and large business concerns.

Since 1996, the following macro-economic projects with South African involvement/funding have been implemented, or are in the process of implementation:

• Mozal 1 Aluminium Smelter Plant
• N4 Toll-road between Witbank and Maputo
• The Ressano Garcia railway line to South Africa
• The Motraco tri-government (RSA/Mozambique/Swaziland) electricity utility company (supplying electricity to the Mozal 1 Aluminium Smelter Plant)
• The Maputo Iron and Steel Plant (MISP)
• The Beluluane Industrial Park
• The Natural Gas project
• Greater Limpopo Transfrontier (Peace) Park
• Mozal Aluminium Smelter (Phase 2)
• Lubombo Spatial Development Initiative
• Chibuto Titanium Mine (Corridor Sands)
• Zambezi Development Corridor
  

For further information contact Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853
Issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001
30 April 2002