Fungi Kwaramba in MINSK, Belarus
ZIMBABWE stands ready to open 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, President Mnangagwa has said.
Speaking following a meeting with his Belarusian counterpart Aleksandr Lukashenko here yesterday, the President noted progress that has been made in farm mechanisation with the aid of Belarus, particularly in the realisation of national food security.
“My dear brother, your historic State visit to the Republic of Zimbabwe in 2023 saw the signing of eight agreements and commercial contracts between our two countries. Among these agreements was the agreement to establish the Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation, which guides and oversees cooperation between our two countries.
“The recent visit in April, by the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus, Honourable Victor Karankevich, and a high-level delegation, was of critical importance.
“The Mid-Term Review of the Zimbabwe/Belarus Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation undertaken by our officials examined existing agreements, and explored common ground in additional areas of cooperation. We are on the right track towards implementing our various agreements,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said the remarkable progress in the growth of the bilateral relationship between the two countries is pleasing, with key successes realised to date.
However, he said, there is a need to maintain the momentum through extensive follow up and implementation of previously agreed MOUs.
“My dear brother, the impact of the Belarus-Zimbabwe Farm Mechanisation Project on the food security and sovereignty of our country has been phenomenal. We thank you and your Government for the approval of Phase 3 of the project. Under our Agriculture Transformation Strategy, growing our dairy industry is being prioritised. The tour to the Savushkin Dairy Processing Company in Brest was insightful. We stand ready to explore mechanisation and modernisation of our dairy industry with the support of Belarus,” said the President.
Yesterday, President Mnangagwa and his counterpart witnessed the signing of eight agreements for cooperation in several areas, including health, agriculture and tourism.
Building on the transformative cooperation in the agriculture sector, President Mnangagwa added that there is a need to scale up collaboration in other areas, notably in the assembly of tractors, taking advantage of Zimbabwe’s strategic position.
“Zimbabwe is keen to progress cooperation in the local assembly of machinery produced by the Republic of Belarus. This will benefit Zimbabwe, while also enhancing Belarus’ economic presence in the region. As we further accelerate the modernisation and industrialisation of our economy and maximise the beneficiation of our rich agricultural and mineral resources, we view Belarus as a strategic partner in this journey. This is particularly important given that your country has well-established capabilities in industrial technology, mechanisation and skills development,” he said.
“Riding on our country’s strategic geographical location within the SADC region, we welcome the initiative by Belarus to position a regional manufacturing hub for Belarusian products in Zimbabwe. This approach will undoubtedly strengthen both our bilateral commercial linkages and the broader regional trade integration agenda of Southern Africa. We are confident that Belarusian innovation and expertise in these sectors can help deliver immediate and lasting impacts to our economy and peoples.”
Turning to the health sector, President Mnangagwa said the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Zimbabwe and Belarus health representatives must now focus on biomedical equipment localisation and specialist training.
“We invite partnerships to localise Belarusian pharmaceutical production in Zimbabwe to enhance access to affordable medicines while creating export opportunities for both our countries.
“As Zimbabwe pursues its Vision 2030 agenda, partnerships such as the one we have with the Republic of Belarus, are critical in accelerating our industrialisation efforts and maximising the beneficiation of our rich agricultural and mineral resources. We believe that together, we can develop a solid framework for investment that fosters a vibrant industrial sector, boosts productivity, and transforms our economy,” he said.
Taking people-to-people relations to another level, President Mnangagwa also witnessed the signing of an agreement on cooperation in education between the two countries.
“In our education cooperation, Zimbabwean is grateful for the scholarships by your government to our students with focus on medicine, engineering, and other science and technology oriented fields of study. It is my hope that our officials can go a step further and encourage student exchange programmes,” he said.
The President and his Belarusian counterpart witnessed the signing of an MoU on cooperation in the field of tourism and another one in the sphere of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development.
An intergovernmental Agreement on visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and service (official) passports was also signed along with a Roadmap of Strategic Cooperation and Partnership between the two countries for 2026-2030.
Another MoU was also signed for cooperation in the field of prevention, management and elimination of natural disasters and technological hazards, as well as another on cooperation in the field of information and press.
Also signed was an MOU on strengthening of partnership in waste management and water treatment.
Letters of intent were also agreed in the reconstruction of Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals and on strengthening partnerships in health.
In an increasingly complex and ever-evolving international environment, the President said collaboration in multilateral fora remains a cornerstone in the strategic relations between the two countries that are both victims of unjustified and illegal economic sanctions.
“The solidarity between Zimbabwe and Belarus in resisting Western aggression is indispensable. Zimbabwe firmly condemns the use of sanctions as a foreign policy tool. Such measures undermine national sovereignty and contravene the principles of international law.
“You will recall that Zimbabwe has formally presented its candidature for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the period 2027 to 2028. We are grateful for the steadfast support of Belarus as we pursue this important position on the global arena,” said President Mnangagwa.
He added that Zimbabwe believes that focus should be on dialogue and mutual understanding, in accordance with international law, rather than restrictive measures such as sanctions, which reverse and even retard in-roads towards the realisation of sustainable national development goals and a higher quality of life for citizens.
Apart from that, the President said Zimbabwe is keen to explore new avenues of cooperation in energy, health, waste management, and water purification, where Belarusian expertise and innovation can make a meaningful and lasting impact.
On his part, President Lukashenko said the two countries are achieving tangible practical results together, singling out the mechanisation of Zimbabwe’s agriculture, which he described as a true example of honest, open and productive cooperation.
“Thanks to this programme, the wheat harvest in Zimbabwe has already increased more than threefold. Since 2022, Zimbabwe has been fully meeting its domestic wheat needs and has started exporting the surplus to neighbouring countries.”
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