Zimbabwe and Belarus Presidents gift each other

Zim Now Writer

The Presidents of Belarus and Zimbabwe Tuesday exchanged gifts with the host head of state getting a tractor in return for a taxidermy lion that he, in turn, handed over to his visiting counterpart.

A taxidermy lion is made out of the skin of the animal, cleaned, preserved and then stretched onto a 'body-shaped' frame, usually modelled on the animal itself. Generally the lion, regarded as the “king of the jungle”, is a symbol of power and strength.

President Aleksandr Lukashenko jetted into the country for a three day state visit courtesy of an invitation by President Mnangagwa. His visit, the first for a Belarusian leader to Harare, is reciprocal after the Zimbabwean President once toured Belarus. A number of trade agreements have since then been signed, particularly in the area of agriculture.

President Mnangagwa’s gift from Lukashenko is specifically for use at his subsidiary plot.

During the day, the Presidents took part in the ceremony of handing over of Belarusian equipment to Zimbabwean farmers and were informed about the supply and maintenance of Belarusian equipment in the country.

Zimbabwean girls in Belarusian national costumes with a loaf in their hands welcomed them. The cake was baked from local crops harvested with the help of Belarusian equipment.