Nam against Zim sanctions

NAMIBIA supports Zimbabwe’s call for the lifting of sanctions against that country, saying such measures are “harsh” and have caused “socio-economic hardships to the people of Zimbabwe”.

“The two Presidents called for the immediate lifting of these sanctions as they are unjustifiable,” a joint statement issued at the end of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s four-day visit to Namibia said. The State visit was preceded by the fourth session of the Namibia-Zimbabwe Joint Permanent Commission on Co-operation.A number of bilateral agreements and memorandums of understanding were signed in the areas of diplomatic consultation, electricity generation and double taxation.Under a “loan and purchase agreement”, NamPower gave a loan of up to US$40 million to its Zimbabwean counterpart for the rehabilitation of the Hwange power station.Zimbabwe, in turn, undertook to guarantee electricity supply to Namibia for five years.The double taxation agreement ensures that a Namibian company doing business in Zimbabwe will not be taxed in both countries.The same applies to Zimbabwean companies operating in Namibia.The joint statement said the two Heads of State agreed on the need to increase trade and investment between Namibia and Zimbabwe.”In this context, they called on the business communities of both countries to make use of existing opportunities in both countries.”They welcomed the recent general elections and the inauguration of a democratic government in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and called on the international community to continue assisting the people of that country in their efforts towards consolidating peace, national reconstruction and economic development.They also expressed serious concern about the conflicts in Somalia and the Darfur region of Sudan and urged the governments and other concerned parties to find lasting solutions to the conflict.While in Namibia, Mugabe also met separately with Prime Minister Nahas Angula and Speaker Theo-Ben Gurirab.That was in addition to a dinner and lunch with the Namibian business community in Windhoek and at Walvis Bay and visits to the LLD Diamonds Company and Merlus Sea Food Processors at Walvis Bay.The State visit was preceded by the fourth session of the Namibia-Zimbabwe Joint Permanent Commission on Co-operation.A number of bilateral agreements and memorandums of understanding were signed in the areas of diplomatic consultation, electricity generation and double taxation.Under a “loan and purchase agreement”, NamPower gave a loan of up to US$40 million to its Zimbabwean counterpart for the rehabilitation of the Hwange power station.Zimbabwe, in turn, undertook to guarantee electricity supply to Namibia for five years.The double taxation agreement ensures that a Namibian company doing business in Zimbabwe will not be taxed in both countries.The same applies to Zimbabwean companies operating in Namibia.The joint statement said the two Heads of State agreed on the need to increase trade and investment between Namibia and Zimbabwe.”In this context, they called on the business communities of both countries to make use of existing opportunities in both countries.”They welcomed the recent general elections and the inauguration of a democratic government in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and called on the international community to continue assisting the people of that country in their efforts towards consolidating peace, national reconstruction and economic development.They also expressed serious concern about the conflicts in Somalia and the Darfur region of Sudan and urged the governments and other concerned parties to find lasting solutions to the conflict.While in Namibia, Mugabe also met separately with Prime Minister Nahas Angula and Speaker Theo-Ben Gurirab.That was in addition to a dinner and lunch with the Namibian business community in Windhoek and at Walvis Bay and visits to the LLD Diamonds Company and Merlus Sea Food Processors at Walvis Bay.