Toast Remarks by President Jacob Zuma on the occasion of a State Banquet in honour of President Nyusi of the Republic of Mozambique
Your Excellency, President Nyusi and your distinguished delegation,
Honourable Ministers and Deputy Ministers here present,
The Secretary General of the ANC and other leaders present,
Excellencies Ambassadors and High Commissioners from the SADC region,
Distinguished Guests,
Good evening to you all.
We are delighted and honoured to welcome you, My Dear Brother, Comrade and friend, President Nyusi and your distinguished delegation on the occasion of your first State visit to South Africa.
May I also, Your Excellency, take this opportunity to once more extend my deepest appreciation and gratitude for the exceptionally warm hospitality you accorded me and my delegation during my May 2015 State visit to Mozambique.
Your State Visit to South Africa further affirms the strong historical, political, fraternal and cultural ties that bind our countries and peoples.
South Africa and Mozambique share a rich history. The role and sacrifices of Mozambique in the struggle against apartheid is well-known. Your beautiful country became home to many freedom fighters as we worked together to advance the struggle against the evils of apartheid colonialism.
Tragically, on 19th October 1986, Mozambique lost a courageous leader and revolutionary on South African soil, a man who believed that South Africans and Mozambicans are one people, President Samora Machel.
Indeed the full history of struggle and solidarity between our two countries and peoples is yet to be told so that future generations can understand that we are indeed one people.
We share the same history, culture, ancestry and geography. We speak the same languages and share the same dreams of prosperity and sustainable development for our two countries.
Flowing from the rich history we are talking about, our two countries have over the years developed a strong partnership and solidarity.
This is evidenced by the existence of sixty nine bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding, covering a wide range of sectors.
These sectors include transport, trade and investment, energy, security, environment and tourism, science and technology, water, immigration, communication, sport, arts and culture, agriculture, mining, to mention but a few.
The bilateral partnership between our sister Republics was enhanced in 2011 when we signed an agreement establishing a Bi-National Commission between our two countries.
Today we officially inaugurated the Bi-National Commission. This means that every year we shall meet at the level of the Heads of State to discuss strategic issues of bilateral importance and significance.
This will create the required momentum in the implementation of all the signed agreements and memoranda of understanding.
We have both agreed on the need to further expand economic cooperation and trade relations.
We addressed the South Africa-Mozambique business forum earlier today to encourage the two business sectors to explore opportunities in the two countries.
Over three hundred (300) South African companies operate in Mozambique and are contributing to the growth and development of the Mozambican economy.
Mozambican companies should also further explore opportunities in South Africa. The ultimate goal is to promote inclusive economic growth which will create employment and an end to poverty and deprivation in the two countries.
Your Excellency and Comrade President,
We are part of a thriving, stable and vibrant region of SADC. As a region, we are marching slowly but sure to creating a stable, prosperous and integrated region.
We have the SADC Free Trade Agreement of 2008 and we have recently adopted an important strategy – the SADC industrialisation strategy for the region which should help to create regional value chains.
Our two countries also share a common view on issues of political stability, peace and security.
In this regard, Your Excellency, I would like to assure you of our support in your role as the Chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, and your efforts to maintain regional peace and stability and to fight counter terrorism, illegal migration and transnational and cross border crimes.
We need to redouble our joint efforts to fight these crimes.
Of concern for us as well is the poaching of our valued wild life especially the rhino. Our two countries signed a memorandum of understanding last year aimed at promoting cooperation in various conservation and security areas including the combating of rhino poaching.
Your Excellency,
Beyond our shores, I remain encouraged by our common partnership in the promotion of multilateralism, continental integration, South-South cooperation and the reform of the United Nations and its institutions.
We both believe that Africa is an integral part of the world community and should participate as an equal in international institutions such as the United Nations and international financial institutions. We will continue pursuing reform until the goal of an equal and just world is reached.
Your Excellency,
I remember vividly well the warm and exceptional welcome which we received in Maputo and Matola during our visit last month to unveil the Matola Raid Monument and Interpretive Centre in memory of freedom fighters who were mercilessly gunned down by the apartheid regime in 1981.
That Monument reminds us of where we come from in our liberation struggle and the sacrifices made by the people of our two countries so that we could be free.
You visited Freedom Park earlier. The monument is also a reminder of a painful past of a struggle that was fought over centuries.
That history of struggle enjoins us to soldier on in pursuit of sustainable socio-economic development and to work towards an end to poverty, inequality and unemployment.
Indeed the struggle has not ended. The struggle for economic freedom, full employment, equality and prosperity continues.
Let me thank you again Your Excellency for honouring us with your presence.
Distinguished Guests,
May you please all rise and join me in a toast to the good health of His Excellency, President Filipe Nyusi and to the prosperity, everlasting friendship and solidarity between the peoples of Mozambique and South Africa.
To friendship and comradeship!
Muinto Obrigado!
