by Gideon Madzikatidze
HARARE – Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, on his inaugural visit to Harare for the Zimbabwe‑Zambia Bi‑National Commission on Defence and Security meeting, assured Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa not to worry if drones or yellow aeroplanes are spotted flying into Zimbabwe’s airspace from Zambia’s designated boundaries, claiming his nation has embarked in massive modern ‘minerals mapping’ technology not spying.
Speaking in a relaxed tone at the meeting, President Hichilema highlighted the collaborative nature of the aerial activities, emphasising that the flights are part of a large‑scale geophysical mapping project aimed at exploring mineral resources in the region. He reiterated the strong partnership between Zambia and Zimbabwe, underscoring that such activities are meant to boost economic development and cooperation, not cause alarm.
“Just to let you know Mr President. We have embarked on a national minerals mapping technology, and I want to applogise and let you know that as Zambia, we are doing a high resolution geo-physical work,” Hichilema said.
“You should not panic if you see drones or yellow aeroplanes straying into your land or out of Zambia’s designated boundaries, because we have been involved in massive geophysical mapping of our minerals,” Hichilema said during his address.
“And I want to apologise that sometimes we fly into your aerospace (which is) beyond prescribed boundaries. If you see yellow planes straying into the Zimbabwean territory, they are friendly since we are doing high-resolution geo-physical work,” Hichilema added.
“And as you are aware and we all know that some mineral veins and belts stretch into Zimbabwe and vice versa. That’s true. So we need to manage these resources together, and Mr President, its pointed in a way that will benefit both Zimbabwe and Zambian economies simultaneously,” he added.
“That also entails security co-operation, Mr President,” he said.
The assurance came amid discussions on defence and security cooperation between the two countries, with both leaders reaffirming their commitment to mutual benefits and regional stability. President Mnangagwa welcomed Hichilema’s clarification, noting the importance of transparency and collaboration in regional security matters.
In his welcome remarks during the Zimbabwe-Zambia inaugural Bi National Commission on Defence and Security Meeting, Mnangagwa spoke about the essence of mutual cooperation (defence and security matters) and historical relations binding the two nations together.
“Let me also hasten to say that for development to happen in our two countries; peace, security and stability have to be assured. The Defence Security services of our two countries have always been in close consultations and cooperation, as illustrated by the convening of the Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security in March 2025. I encourage the security services to remain vigilant in the midst of the ever-changing and new security threats such as terrorism, drug trafficking, and cyber crimes, among others,” Mnangagwa said.
“In respect of the mining sector, immense potential lies in the growing demand for new minerals. I challenge our officials to pursue avenues of cooperation that will see Zimbabwe and Zambia harness their resource endowments to tap into the opportunities associated with the green energy revolution and our entry into global value chains. The over-arching goal is that our rich natural resource endowments must benefit our two economies and primarily our people. As Zimbabwe and Zambia, we share Mosi-oa-Tunya, the Victoria Falls. Cooperation and complementarity in improving tourist products and services in both the City of Victoria Falls and Livingstone, must be strengthened,” he added.
The inaugural Bi‑National Commission meeting also featured previous discussions on tariff removal, a proposed uni‑visa system, and Zambia’s call for the West to lift sanctions on Zimbabwe, highlighting the multifaceted nature of the two nations’ growing partnership.