Pretoria, South Africa – President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to host President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe for the Fourth Session of the South Africa–Zimbabwe Bi-National Commission (BNC) on Friday, August 21, 2026, in Pretoria. This high-level meeting underscores the ongoing commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation across various sectors between the two Southern African nations.
The BNC, established in April 2015, serves as a crucial mechanism for managing and advancing the strategic partnership between South Africa and Zimbabwe. To date, over 33 agreements and memoranda of understanding have been concluded, covering areas such as trade, investment, infrastructure development, and economic cooperation.
Discussions during this session are expected to focus on reviewing progress in implementing existing bilateral commitments and identifying new opportunities to further strengthen relations, contributing to shared growth and development. The Heads of State Meeting will be preceded by a Ministerial Meeting, which followed a Senior Officials Meeting that took place on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.
Key Players Involved
- President Cyril Ramaphosa: Host of the BNC, representing South Africa.
- President Emmerson Mnangagwa: Head of the Zimbabwean delegation.
- Senior Officials and Ministers: Engaged in preparatory meetings to set the agenda and review existing agreements.
Event Timeline
- August 18, 2026: Senior Officials Meeting of the Fourth Session of the BNC.
- August 19-20, 2026: Ministerial Meeting preceding the Heads of State Summit.
- August 21, 2026: Fourth Session of the South Africa–Zimbabwe Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Pretoria.
