President not in SA to beg: Charamba
Presidential spokesperson, Cde George Charamba, who is also Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary, has dismissed claims by some sections of the media that President Mugabe is in South Africa to extend a begging bowl.
Charamba said the President in fact on a mission to upgrade bilateral ties with his southern neighbour, adding that Zimbabwe is seeking a special relations with South Africa based on mutual benefits and equality and not weakness.
 
Briefing the media in Pretoria, Charamba said Zimbabwe is also looking for fair and reciprocal trade with South Africa and the lifting of trade barriers given the fact that SA is the economic powerhouse on the African continent.
“Zimbabwe would want to attain a position where there is free flow of trade in both directions to ensure prosperity for both countries,” said Charamba.
He said as mining countries, there is need to recognise the fact that whatever happens in the sector in Zimbabwe also affects the sector in SA, hence the need for cooperation in that area.
“Zimbabwe is seeking for assistance to value-add its minerals, contrary to the notion of hand outs as purported by some sections of the media. With thousands of Zimbabwean experts and artisans employed as experts in SA it is also Zimbabwe’s belief that their contribution to the SA economy be recognised,” added Charamba.
Sources close to the meeting held soon after Mugabe’s arrival said ”South Africa wants us to have open mouths in which they pour their cereals ” and emphasized the need for Zimbabwe  to promote and grow her own industries to ensure it has something to trade in as opposed to consuming only without producing.
 
Meanwhile, President Mugabe who is on a historical 3-day state visit to South Africa is currently holding talks with his counterpart President Jacob Zuma at the Union Building in Pretoria.
Mugabe arrived at Union Building at 10 am and was welcomed with a gun salute and the singing of the national anthems of the two countries in a welcome ceremony in the Nelson Mandela Amphitheatre.
After the welcome ceremony the two leaders proceeded into a closed door meeting.
Official talks and a signing ceremony will follow the session at around mid day.
A total of 8 agreements are expected to be signed after the deliberations between the two leaders.
 
The agreements include the one on the establishment of a bi-national commission, MoU on diplomatic consultations, an agreement on mutual assistance between customs administrations, and an agreement on cooperation in water resource management and establishment and functioning of the joint water commission.