Photo via ZBC News

South Sudan Minister for Presidential Affairs, Dr Barnaba Benjamin has paid a courtesy call on President Emmerson Mnangagwa, where he delivered a letter from South Sudan President Salva Kiir.

Emerging from the closed-door meeting with President Mnangagwa, South Sudanese Minister for Presidential Affairs, Dr Barnaba Benjamin said his country appreciates Zimbabwe’s continued support.

“I brought a special letter from our President to his excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa. This underscores the great relations that the government and people of Zimbabwe has had to the people of South Sudan. We got support and today we are the new nation we are and the President was thanking Zimbabwe for contributing to our dignity,” Dr Benjamin said.

The envoy also sought Zimbabwe’s support for the lifting of the arms embargo placed on South Sudan by the United Nations.

“I brought a message from the President we are seeking support from the President of Zimbabwe through institutions like SADC.  AU because the UN system has had an arms embargo on the republic of South Sudan. It is putting a lot of difficulties in the implementation of a peace process. We have already trained over 53 000 troops but because of the embargo we are not able to purchase the equipment and arms they need.”

Dr Benjamin also highlighted that his country would like to expand areas of cooperation with Zimbabwe in a number of key sectors, including trade.

“We thought we should also expand our relations in areas of trade, education and investment. Already we have students who have graduated from here,” he noted.

The South Sudanese envoy indicated that his country is looking forward to a visit from President Mnangagwa and emphasized on the need for solidarity among African countries. - Josephine Mugiyo, ZBC News