The agreements were signed on August 6, 2025, at the conclusion of the Ministerial Session of the Third Joint Permanent Commission between Rwanda and Zimbabwe. The meeting aimed to review and strengthen trade and investment relations between the two countries.
On the Rwandan side, the agreements were signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Amb. Olivier Nduhungirehe, while Zimbabwe was represented by his counterpart, Prof. Dr. Amon Murwira.
Minister Nduhungirehe noted that both countries had sufficient time to explore areas of cooperation following the second session of the commission held in Harare, Zimbabwe, in 2023.
The meeting laid the groundwork for signing the new agreements covering youth development, collaboration between police institutions, health, customs information exchange, and expansion of energy sector cooperation.
He also pointed out that Rwanda and Zimbabwe already collaborate in several areas such as agriculture, correctional services, and tourism, stressing the importance of implementing the signed agreements.
'We must focus heavily on implementation. Let's act on the decisions made today to produce tangible results. Establishing follow-up mechanisms, facilitating knowledge exchange, and working together to solve governance-related challenges are crucial,' he said.
He further stated that Zimbabwe is ready to work with Rwanda in the field of justice, with ongoing discussions aimed at finalising a prisoner transfer agreement. Talks are also nearing completion on avoiding double taxation and collaborating on social development programmes.
Minister Nduhungirehe described Zimbabwe as a key partner for Rwanda, with over 25 cooperation agreements signed to date aimed at boosting both countries' economies.
Zimbabwe's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Dr. Amon Murwira, expressed his country's interest in working closely with Rwanda in various sectors.
'We consider the Rwandaâ€"Zimbabwe partnership vital, as it has grown significantly over the years. Since our meeting in 2021, we've witnessed remarkable progress in several sectors. This reflects the strong collaboration, friendship, and mutual respect between us,' he said.
He also praised the establishment of a joint Rwandaâ€"Zimbabwe Business Forum, noting its potential to highlight partnership opportunities in agriculture and agro-processing, tourism, mineral extraction, industrial development, and other sectors that can benefit both populations.
Prof. Murwira highlighted existing cooperation in education, which is already yielding results. He confirmed that the deployment of a second group of Zimbabwean teachers to Rwanda is nearing completion.
He also mentioned his visit to Norrsken Kigali, which supports youth-led tech innovation projects, and identified it as a potential area for joint efforts in advancing technology and industrial growth.
Prof. Murwira added that Zimbabwe is prepared to offer scholarships to Rwandan students interested in furthering their knowledge, particularly in innovation and industrial development.
IGIHE
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/rwanda-and-zimbabwe-sign-five-cooperation-agreements
