After January’s extreme weather exposed serious vulnerabilities and resulted in the evacuation of more than 500 guests, the famed game reserve is rethinking its roads, bridges and other infrastructure.

On Friday, August 21, 2026, the South African government hosted the South Africa–Zimbabwe Bi-National Commission Business Forum. The discussions centred on firming trade, industrialisation, and the development of regional value chains. With agriculture accounting for 9.5% of the Zimbabwean GDP, according to the latest World Bank data, it is natural that the discussions also included the sector. The focus was on deepening value addition in both countries to achieve a more balanced trade. Indeed, Zimbabwe has been one of the most important export markets for South Africa’s agricultural products, ranking second only to the Netherlands. Given that the Netherlands is an entry point to the European Union with key ports, one can speculate that some products exported through the Netherlands are likely distributed to other European Union countries, meaning that from an individual country perspective, Zimbabwe is likely the most significant export market for South Africa’s agriculture.
 

In 2025, South Africa exported agricultural products to Zimbabwe worth US$1.2 billion. This is about 8% of South Africa’s agricultural exports. Importantly, this equals the value of the agricultural products that South Africa exports to the Middle East or to the BRICS countries. Of course, the agricultural products that South Africa typically exports to Zimbabwe differ from those exported to the European Union, the Middle East, BRICS countries, and other regions. The key agricultural export products to Zimbabwe are mainly maize, soybeans, prepared foods, bottled water, soybean oil, sauces and condiments, seasonings and spices, animal feed, wheat, preserved vegetables, and fruit juices, amongst other products. Meanwhile, exports to other parts of the world would include fruits, wine, nuts, meat, and grains, all of which are less prepared or processed than those exported to Zimbabwe. South Africa’s dominance in processed food products also motivated the discussion of regional value chains.
 

Of course, Zimbabwe faces complex political and land governance challenges, making it difficult to attract investment in the country's agricultural sector.

Premier has begun consultations over the proposed controlled closure of its Fruit Products Western Cape operation in Tulbagh, a move producers warn could remove almost half of South Africa’s fruit-canning capacity shortly before the next deciduous-fruit harvest.

Ons is nie almal dieselfde nie-  Suid Afrika -

South Africa hosted the 46th Ordinary Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit in Durban this past week.