Joint Communiqué at the end of a Two Day State Visit to the Republic of Mozambique by His Excellency Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa

1. At the invitation of H. E. Armando Emilio Guebuza, President of the Republic of Mozambique, H. E. Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa, paid a two-day State visit to the Republic of Mozambique from 13th to 14th December 2011.

2. H. E. Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma was accompanied by the First Lady, Mrs Sizakele Zuma, ten (10) Ministers, senior Government Officials and a delegation of more than eighty (80) Businessmen and women.

3. On arrival at the Maputo International Airport, H. E. Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma and his entourage were received by H. E. Armando Emilio Guebuza, President of the Republic of Mozambique, Members of Government and other dignitaries.

4. Before the start of the official talks, President Zuma laid a wreath at the Heroes’ Acre in honour of those Mozambicans who laid down their lives for freedom.

5. During his visit, H. E. Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma held official talks with H. E. Armando Emilio Guebuza at the State House on 13 December 2011. During the discussions, the two Presidents reviewed a wide range of bilateral, regional and international issues. On the bilateral relations, the two Presidents observed with appreciation that a lot of progress has been made in terms of advancement of political, economical and social cooperation between the two countries.

6. With respect to economic cooperation, the two Heads of State noted the increase in the trade volumes and investments between the two countries. In this regard, the two Presidents reaffirmed their commitment to continue working together to facilitate interactions of business communities of the respective countries with a view to exploiting the available opportunities for closer cooperation in key areas such as energy, mineral resources, tourism, transport and communications, science and technology and trade and industry.

7. At the conclusion of the official discussions, the two Presidents witnessed the signing of various agreements and memoranda of understanding namely:

• Agreement on the establishment of Bi-National Commission;
• Agreement on the Regular Diplomatic Consultations;
• MoU on Forestry Based Industries;
• Programme of Cooperation in the field of Arts, Culture and Heritage for 2012 -2014;
• Agreement on Cooperation of Frequency Bands;
• MoU on Cooperation in the field of Communications
• Memorandum of Understanding between the Governments of Mozambique, South Africa and Tanzania on Maritime Security Cooperation.

8. On the sidelines of the State visit, a Business Forum was organised between the South African and Mozambican Business Communities. The two Heads of State had an opportunity on 14 December 2011 to address Business Forum at Girassol Congress SPA – Indy Village. The Business Forum brought together a large number of business people from both countries and explored further areas of the trade and investments to leverage the enhanced bilateral relations between the two countries.

9. During his State Visit, President Zuma received one of the highest honours accorded to a visiting foreign Head of State, the Freedom of the City of Maputo. He also visited the construction site of the Matola Raid Monument and Interpretive Centre which is being constructed in honour of the South African Freedom Fighters who died at the hands of the former apartheid forces.    

10. The two Heads of State expressed satisfaction with the current progress in the construction of the Matola Raid Monument in honour of those freedom fighters who laid down their lives during the liberation struggle against apartheid in South Africa.

11. On the regional front, the two Presidents reflected on the political situation within the SADC region. In this regard, the two Heads of State reiterated their commitment to continue working together to ensure peace and stability.

12. On the continental front, the two Presidents exchanged views on the developments on the African Continent and expressed their commitment to African Unity and integration within the framework of the Constitutive Act of the African Union.

13. On the multilateral front, the Presidents discussed issues relating to,   inter alia, the global economic situation as well as the need to reform multilateral institutions of governance such as the UN Security Council and the Bretton Woods Institutions. President Zuma updated his counterpart about the decisions and follow-up mechanism regarding the 17th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the 7th meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP7), commonly known as COP17/CMP7, held in Durban, from 28 November to 9 December 2011.

14. At the conclusion of the State Visit, President Zuma expressed his profound gratitude to H.E. Armando Guebuza and the entire Mozambican people for the warm welcome and friendly hospitality extended to him and his delegation and for the excellent arrangements made during his visit.

15. H.E. President Jacob Zuma extended an invitation to H. E. President Armando Guebuza to visit the Republic of South Africa. H.E. President Armando Guebuza graciously accepted the invitation to visit South Africa on a date to be mutually agreed through diplomatic channels.

Issued on 14th December 2011

Maputo, Mozambique