Wallace Ruzvidzo
Herald Reporter
ZIMBABWE and Belarus have numerous areas for potential cooperation that should be explored beyond their current engagements, said Belarusian Defence Minister Lieutenant-General Viktor Khrenin.
Lt-Gen Khrenin led a delegation that was in the country and paid a courtesy call on President Mnangagwa at State House in Harare yesterday.
Speaking to the media after their closed-door meeting, Lt-Gen Khrenin said he was primarily in the country to increase military cooperation between Harare and Minsk.
Lt-Gen Khrenin and Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri on Monday signed agreements covering peace, security and the social sector.
“My mission is simple; I am a man in uniform and my purpose is strengthening military cooperation and military technical cooperation with the Defence Forces of the Republic of Zimbabwe,” he said.
“We have followed really great negotiations with the Honourable Minister of Defence and we have agreed on further and respective directions for cooperation. And today (yesterday) I had the honour to meet with His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe. His Excellency was informed about our agreements within the framework of the Ministry of Defence and we also discussed issues of cooperation within industrial cooperation and agriculture.”
Lt-Gen Khrenin was accompanied by his deputy, Major General Andrey Burdyko, who is responsible for logistics and heads the armed forces, along with other government officials. He said Harare and Minsk could enhance their cooperation in different areas to promote mutual development and advancement.
“We can clearly see that we have a lot of points of cooperation that we can develop. We have also been able to see that we have many ways of cooperating for the sake of the development of our countries in various spheres,” said Lt-Gen Khrenin.
Belarus and Zimbabwe traditionally enjoy cordial relations, with the two countries exchanging high-level visits at Head of State and other levels.
President Mnangagwa was in Belarus mid this year for an official visit while his counterpart, President Alexander Lukashenko, made a historic State visit to Zimbabwe in 2023. During his visit to Minsk, President Mnangagwa and his counterpart witnessed the signing of eight agreements for cooperation in several areas, including health, agriculture and tourism.
The two leaders have also continued to stress the need for the opening of new frontiers of cooperation with Belarus, particularly in the fields of energy, mining, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, waste management and water purification, which are critical to unlocking sustainable socio-economic growth.
The impact of the Belarus-Zimbabwe Farm Mechanisation Project on the food security and sovereignty of Zimbabwe has also been crucial.
The post Zim, Belarus explore new areas for cooperation appeared first on herald.
The post Zim, Belarus explore new areas for cooperation appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.