SA Presidency Declines To Share What Ramaphosa Discussed With Mnangagwa In Kwekwe

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s surprise visit to Zimbabwe over the weekend has sparked debate in both countries. There is widespread speculation about the purpose of the trip and what he discussed with his Zimbabwean counterpart, President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The two leaders met on Sunday at Mnangagwa’s private Precabe Farm in Kwekwe, Midlands Province.

The visit was described as a private or unofficial working visit rather than a formal state visit.

Ramaphosa entered the country quietly, with the trip only becoming public once photos began circulating on social media.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, South African presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya declined to share details of Ramaphosa’s discussion with President Mnangagwa when asked by reporters.

“At this stage I don’t have an indication from the president that he wants us to start engaging publicly on the details of his discussion with President Mnangagwa and so I’m not at liberty to comment on what exactly they discussed except to say they will have engaged quite deeply and quite thoroughly on issues of mutual and bilateral interest and some of these issues will include developments in Zimbabwe and some of these issues will also include developments in South Africa,” Magwenya said.

He said the meeting would have involved updates from both sides, with Ramaphosa briefing Mnangagwa on developments in South Africa and Mnangagwa doing the same.

“One of the things the president does very well when he’s meeting other heads of state is to update them on the developments in South Africa, the establishment of the GNU, and the complexity of having to manage 10 parties,” said Magwenya.

“The pride of concluding an agreement amongst all 10 parties in such a short space of time when you compare with more developed and advanced democracies that struggle to conclude such agreements in time following the elections.

“And so one would expect that all issues pertinent to developments in Zimbabwe would have been discussed.

“Equally, he would have shared a thought or two or shared a perspective on recent developments here in South Africa. And that’s something that heads of state do.

“And that discussion will always centre around the strengthening of the bilateral cooperation, issues of trade, issues of security, how they vote at multilateral platforms. How they cooperate with respect to continental issues as well as global issues.

“So it would have been a very wide-ranging discussion. Considering that they retreated to President Mnangagwa’s farm… they will have had a lot of time to engage on a variety of issues, but I can’t get into the actual details.”