By Margaret Kamba 

SWAPO and ZANU PF Politburo members met this Tuesday to discuss ways in which the two sister revolutionary Parties can strengthen ties.

Meeting at the order of the two Heads of State, ZANU PF was represented by the Secretary for Information and Publicity Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa, Secretary for Commissariat Cde Munyaradzi Machacha and Secretary for External Relations Cde Simbarashe Mumbengegwi. SWAPO was represented by Hilma Nicanor the Secretary for Information and Mobilization. 

Cde Machacha said the meeting was very fruitful.

"We have been engaging in very fruitful discussions and exploring further areas of cooperation between our two revolutionary Parties. We are glad that in the short period that we have been discussing we have already identified quite a number of areas where SWAPO and ZANU PF can cooperate and where also our two Governments can cooperate. We cherish this visit, the relationship between ZANU PF and SWAPO has been solid over the years and we shall continue to be strengthened in times to come," Cde Machacha said.

"We benefit from each other's experiences and try to build our Parties so that we are stronger and still remain relevant and appealing to the people of our respective countries."

Speaking about the meeting, Cde Mutsvangwa said the meeting shared how the two Parties can meet the expectations of their populace.

"We have just had the pleasure of receiving our colleague and Comrade Minister from Namibia, Cde Hilma Nicanor who works for SWAPO for Political Mobilisation as well as Information. This meeting has been directed by two Heads of States who are currently in official talks in Harare," Ambassador Mutsvangwa said.

"We exchanged experiences on how we can continue to meet the expectations of the populations of the respective countries but also of SADC as you know His Excellency President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa is the current SADC Chairman. We are very conscious of the challenges of the youth dividend which is also an opportunity for the two countries to carve out a rightful place in the global market place considering that the Africa Free Continental Trade Area is coming on board.

"So we were sharing experiences as to how SADC can aid to the prosperity of Africa so that Mother Africa can assume its rightful place in global affairs. So this has been the jist of our meeting and peers of the two leaders of both Namibia and Zimbabwe to continue to strengthen the bonds which came from the trenches of the liberation struggle but now we want bonds to deliver on the prosperity which saw many young people die for and which saw many young people today are expecting from the two Parties of the Permanent Southern African revolution."

On her part, Cde Nicanor said the relationship between the two sister Parties and countries will continue to be cemented.

""Iam happy to have been here at the Headquarters of ZANU PF and that we could meet as representatives and compatriots of our sister Parties. We have had a meeting today of comrades from sister Parties whose relationship dates back to the years of our liberation struggle and not only that but SWAPO and Namibia in general have enjoyed the sound relationship even during our transformation period when we had our first ever democratic elections conducted in Namibia in 1989 as the liberation struggle came to an end. The first democratic elections supervised by the United Nations, we enjoyed your fraternal and brotherly comradeship. The fact that SWAPO Party has enjoyed the support including transport during our election campaign and that is what we continue to cherish that strong bond that exists between us is what is making us feel at home and that we are comrades at the table," Cde Nicanor said.

"Iam very happy that we have both reaffirmed that we will continue sharing the same way we shared the trenches during the liberation struggle. On country to country level, the visit of Her Excellency Cde Dr Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as her first official visit as President after taking reign as Namibia's fifth President and first ever female President is to reaffirm that bond. I am here very grateful to announce that for the two countries will continue engaging on socio-economic struggle. The two Principals already agreed that the Bi-National Commission will be taken to its fruition."