New vectors of cooperation and opportunities in the cooperation between Belarus and Zimbabwe were opened after the negotiations of the leaders of the countries. President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko and President of Zimbabwe Emmerson Mnangagwa held talks at the Palace of Independence. The leader of Zimbabwe arrived in Belarus on May 11. He visited Brest Hero Fortress memorial complex and got acquainted with milk processing technologies at Savushkin Product enterprise. The members of the delegation held a number of bilateral events at the departmental level, among organizations and enterprises, public organizations, and business circles. The visit culminated in the talks between the Presidents at the Palace of Independence. 

What connects Belarus and Zimbabwe?

The relations between the countries are developing dynamically, with respect for each other and with a coincidence of positions on a number of issues. The President of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa, visited Belarus in July 2015 as the Vice President and in January 2019 as the Head of State. The visit of the Belarusian leader to the African country in early 2023 gave a new impetus to the cooperation between Belarus and Zimbabwe. As a result of that visit, a package of documents was signed that regulate cooperation in various areas. The agreements reached did not remain on paper, but were quickly put into practice. Confirmation of this is the program of agricultural mechanization in Zimbabwe, within which the Belarusian side supplied the African country with its high-quality agricultural machinery. 

The parties actively exchange visits at various levels. Zimbabwean First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa has visited Belarus several times — during her meetings with the Belarusian leader, cooperation in the humanitarian sphere was discussed. Auxillia Mnangagwa sincerely thanked the Belarusian partners for the transfer of a portable medical complex with an X-ray machine. She noted that this mobile clinic had a positive impact on the health of the population, especially women. 

Cooperation has also been established between the business circles of Zimbabwe and Belarus. In April of this year, a Belarusian delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Viktar Karankevich visited Zimbabwe. The parties discussed further cooperation, including the implementation of the third phase of the Zimbabwean agricultural mechanization program using Belarusian equipment. Following the visit, the Belarusian delegation also reported on the countries’ plans to develop a new comprehensive cooperation roadmap for 2026-2030. 

What has been done to strengthen bilateral relations?

At the Palace of Independence, Presidents Aleksandr Lukashenko and Emmerson Mnangagwa outlined new horizons of cooperation that Belarus and Zimbabwe will open together. «We highly value friendship with your country, with your people. We are united by common approaches to the formation of a just world order based on the sovereign equality of all states, multilateralism, respect for the UN Charter and international law,» Aleksandr Lukashenko welcomed the guests. «Our bilateral cooperation is a new standard in working with African countries.» The President emphasized that, given such a high standard, the Belarusian side tried to provide the members of the delegation with a rich program. «I am absolutely confident that the results of the visit will give a powerful impetus to the relations of brotherhood and partnership between the peoples of Belarus and Zimbabwe,» the Belarusian leader stated. 
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that in recent years our countries have brought political relations to a new level, significantly expanded trade and economic cooperation, and formed a solid contractual and legal basis for cooperation. Much has been done since the historic talks between the presidents in Harare in 2023. A joint commission has been created, a direct dialogue has been established between relevant ministries and companies, and humanitarian and cultural contacts between Belarus and Zimbabwe are expanding. «Together, our countries are achieving tangible practical results. The joint program for the mechanization of Zimbabwe agriculture has become a true example of honest, open and productive interaction,» the Belarusian leader noted. Thanks to this program, the wheat harvest in Zimbabwe has already increased more than threefold. Since 2022, Zimbabwe has been fully self-sufficient in wheat, and has begun exporting surpluses to neighboring countries, including Mozambique, Botswana, and others. «We continue to work with focus to preserve such harvests and further strengthen the food security of Zimbabwe and southern Africa as a whole. This is a very important direction — work from your territory of Zimbabwe to other countries,» the President emphasized. 

«On this example of our joint work, other countries of the African continent see that there is a real alternative to the exploitation and dictation of the West and transnational corporations,» the Head of State emphasized. 
Today, more than 60 students from Zimbabwe are already studying at Belarusian universities in various specialties in the agricultural, medical, and technical fields. «We are ready to increase their number if necessary,» the Belarusian leader assured.

Industrial cooperation has been intensified. «I am confident that the agreements signed in April of this year on the establishment of a bus assembly plant in Zimbabwe will be implemented,» Aleksandr Lukashenko noted. The implementation of agreements on mutual supplies of food products (powdered milk, juices, fruits), cooperation in the fields of healthcare and pharmaceutical supplies, science and technology continues. «We are ready to scale up the accumulated experience. Belarus can become a reliable partner of Zimbabwe in the implementation of modern waste processing technologies, digitalization, peaceful use of atomic energy, and cooperation in space exploration,» the President assured. However, he noted that there are issues that prevent us from moving forward at the pace we would like and reaching a sustainable mutual trade turnover approaching $100 million by 2030. «We need to find solutions to these issues. «There are such solutions. That is why we are holding these negotiations with you,» Aleksandr Lukashenko noted. 

The head of the Belarusian state suggested to his colleague to discuss topical issues of mutual cooperation. «I want to emphasize once again that I do not need to convince you that we are responsible people and are ready to fulfill signed agreements and contracts accurately and on time. I want to assure you that we will always be faithful to this principle. You can have no doubt about this. I want to emphasize once again that you are always a welcome guest for us in Belarus,» Aleksandr Lukashenko assured. 

What will benefit both Zimbabwe and Belarus?

Emmerson Mnangagwa thanked for the invitation to visit Belarus. «The hospitality that was extended to me exceeds all expectations. And we are grateful for such a welcome. This is truly a home away from home,» he admitted. 
The President of Zimbabwe congratulated the President of Belarus and the people on the 80th Anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. He said that the visit to Brest Fortress was special. «It reminded us of the great feat and sacrifices that your people made during the war for peace in the world. We pay tribute to the soldiers of Belarus, who left their mark on history and made a great contribution to peaceful existence,» said Emmerson Mnangagwa. 
The President of Zimbabwe noted that the progress and growth in relations between our countries brings only satisfaction. «We have indeed achieved success. However, there is a need to use these successes further. And to focus on the implementation of previously signed memoranda of understanding,» he said. Emmerson Mnangagwa emphasized that the Belarusian side had a great influence on the mechanization of agriculture and strengthening of food security in Zimbabwe. «This is truly a huge step forward. And we thank you and your government for this. We are grateful for the approval of the third phase of this project. The transformation of our agriculture and the strategy that we are applying in this area is a priority for us,» the President emphasized. 

The Zimbabwean delegation visited Savushkin Product enterprise during their visit. Emmerson Mnangagwa shared that he had the most positive impressions and admitted that the visit gave him a lot to think about. 
«We are ready to continue to consider the mechanization and modernization of our dairy industry with the support of our Belarusian partners,» the President stressed. Emmerson Mnangagwa said that Zimbabwe is striving to make progress in cooperation in the production of machinery with Belarus, as Zimbabwe will benefit greatly from this. And according to him, the Belarusian economy can also benefit from this, since it will be present in the African region. «I am sure that this visit will open new roads and new opportunities for cooperation for us. Not only in agriculture, but also in industry, education, technology and many other areas,» concluded Emmerson Mnangagwa.

What else should be done for strengthening of bilateral relations?

In a statement to the media, Aleksandr Lukashenko called the negotiations with Emmerson Mnangagwa rich and productive. In the Palace of Independence, the leaders discussed a wide range of issues, considered how the agreements already reached are being implemented, including during the Belarusian visit to Zimbabwe two years ago. «We have identified new joint projects. At the same time, special attention was paid to the development of promising areas, including interregional interaction and industrial cooperation,» the Belarusian leader said. «We are ready to assist Zimbabwe in creating a comprehensive healthcare system, to supply medical products and special equipment from Belarus to solve the problem of providing medical care to children, women and the entire population of Zimbabwe. You have studied our healthcare system, you liked it. And you are ready to build it in Zimbabwe with our help. We are ready to assist you in this.» 

Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that the basis of the package of bilateral documents signed as a result of the negotiations is the Roadmap for 2026-2030, which takes into account all key joint projects in various areas. |We agreed to create a commission at the level of heads of state. It will become a high-level strategic mechanism that will allow us to coordinate the work of existing joint commissions and committees. The corresponding draft Agreement will be prepared for my return visit to this wonderful country of Zimbabwe," Aleksandr Lukashenko noted. 

This year, Belarus presides over the Eurasian Economic Union, and Zimbabwe presides over the Southern African Development Community. «We are ready to use our special position to intensify cooperation between these integration blocs and simplify the terms of mutual trade. Of course, in accordance with the current legal procedures,» said the President of Belarus.

Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized that significant results were achieved during Emmerson Mnangagwa’s visit. He noted that this was preceded by a lot of work by governments, relevant ministries, regional authorities and companies. «But I want to express my sincere gratitude to you for your great personal contribution to the development of strategic relations of friendship and brotherhood between the peoples of Belarus and Zimbabwe. I am convinced that with such support we will be even more active in increasing trade turnover, creating promising joint production, and opening new markets in both Africa and Eurasia,» Aleksandr Lukashenko addressed his colleague. He once again emphasized that Belarus is always happy to welcome Emmerson Mnangagwa and his wife Auxillia Mnangagwa, and they will be at home here. «I am very grateful to you for everything you have done. I pay tribute — there would not be such a level of understanding and relations between Zimbabwe and Belarus if it were not for you. It was you who first came to our country as the Vice President and proposed building our relations. That’s how it all started,» the Head of State recalled.

Emmerson Mnangagwa noted that he was very satisfied with the negotiations with his Belarusian colleague. According to him, the Zimbabwean side is looking forward to the continuation of cooperation with Belarusian colleagues. And he outlined the areas in which it can develop. «Zimbabwe has a unique position that allows the country to become a kind of hub through which Belarusian products can be sold in the wider region. This will contribute to the expansion of economic cooperation with many African countries,» Emmerson Mnangagwa noted. According to him, cooperation with Belarus will make a great contribution to the development of industry and the economy of Zimbabwe as a whole. 

The Zimbabwean side is also open to cooperation in other areas. Among them, Emmerson Mnangagwa mentioned waste recycling and management, water purification, and mineral resources extraction. According to him, Belarus and Zimbabwe can together develop a serious basis for investment that will ensure productivity growth and allow the two economies to flourish.

«We will focus on achieving mutual understanding on various international issues. And we will continue to condemn restrictive measures, sanctions that only bring harm and hinder the implementation of sustainable development goals. Therefore, we reaffirm our commitment to support the lifting of sanctions that have been imposed against our states,» the President of Zimbabwe said.

What documents will regulate bilateral cooperation?

To strengthen relations between Belarus and Zimbabwe and achieve higher results, a package of documents was signed. The solemn ceremony of exchanging the texts of international documents took place after negotiations at the highest level. The key document is the Roadmap for Strategic Cooperation and Partnership for 2026-2030. The governments of the two countries signed an Agreement on the abolition of visas for holders of diplomatic and service passports. Agreements on cooperation in the field of prevention and elimination of natural disasters and man-made accidents were signed by the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Belarus and the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works of Zimbabwe. Memorandums of understanding on cooperation in the fields of tourism, development of small and medium-sized enterprises, and mass media were also signed. The parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding on strengthening partnership in the field of waste management and water treatment. The package of signed documents also includes a Memorandum of Intent on the reconstruction of a hospital in the city of Harare and a Memorandum of Intent on strengthening partnerships in healthcare. 

Valeria Stetsko
Photo by BelTA