INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS

President Jacob Zuma. Picture: Bongiwe Mchunu

President Jacob Zuma arrived in Maputo, Mozambique on Tuesday, ahead of his state visit, the presidency said.

The visit is aimed at deepening bilateral, political, economic and social relations between the two countries, presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj said.

“Zuma and President Armando Guebuza will have discussions on concertising bilateral co-operation in key priority areas,” Maharaj added in a statement.

These areas include trade and investment, energy, mining, agriculture, communications, water, environmental affairs, arts and culture as well as science and technology.

Zuma and Guebuza will exchange views on co-operation at regional level, especially within the Southern African Development Community, and discuss issues affecting the continent within the context of the African Union.

During his visit, Zuma is expected to lay a wreath at Heroes Acre, as well as at the Matola Raid Memorial and Interpretative Centre.

This will be followed by his address to a joint sitting of the Parliament of Mozambique and the Mozambique-South Africa Business Forum.

“Several bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding will be signed during the visit,” said Maharaj.

Mozambique is one of South Africa's top five trading partners on the continent. Total exports from South Africa to Mozambique in 2010 were valued at R15.7 billion. South Africa imported goods to the value of R3.7 billion during the same period.

Maharaj said Zuma was accompanied by the Ministers of International Relations and Co-operation; Performance, Monitoring and Evaluation; Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; Arts and Culture; Defence and Military Veterans, Science and Technology; Energy; Communications; Mineral Resources; as well as Trade and Industry. - Sapa