Zimbabwe and South Africa have close fraternal relations underpinned by a common and deeply shared history as well as cultural, kinship and social ties and values, coupled with deep economic, trade and investment links, Foreign Affairs and International Trade minister Frederick Shava says.
Shava made these remarks as he delivered a keynote address during the official opening of Zimbabwe’s new chancery building on 20 Ernest Oppenheimer Avenue, Bruma, Johannesburg, South Africa.
The event was also attended Minister of Home Affairs Kazembe Kazembe, his Local Government counterpart Daniel Garwe, Ambassador David Hamadziripi and Consul General Eria Phiri, among other officials, embassy staff and ordinary Zimbabweans.
Zimbabwe’s embassy in South Africa is in Pretoria, but the country also has consulates in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola was represented by a department official.
The handover of the building coincided with the Bruma consulate’s launching of Zimbabwe’s e-passport processing centre.
Zimbabwe is already processing electronic passports and other identity documents at the Bruma consulate.
The country began issuing e-passports on 18 January 2022.
New centres have been opened around the country, while the many more are being opened regionally and internationally.
