Belarusian President Zim-bound for talks to strengthen economic cooperation

Audrey Galawu

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is scheduled to visit Zimbabwe and the United Arab Emirates for meetings with the countries’ leadership at their invitation, President Lukashenko’s  Pool Telegram channel has confirmed.

“At the invitation of the leadership of the United Arab Emirates and the president of Zimbabwe, the head of the Belarusian state will pay a visit to these countries,” the channel said in a statement.

Lukashenko is expected to hold a series of meetings and talks during the visit.

This is also not the first visit between Zimbabwe and Belarus.

In 2019, President Emmerson Mnangagwa visited Belarus where the two heads of state committed to strengthen cooperation in various sectors including agriculture, mining, infrastructural development and science and innovation.

Belarus’ financial gesture towards Zimbabwe includes two facilities of US$50 million and US$51 million for the modernisation of Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector.

In September 2020, President Mnangagwa launched the Belarus Farm Mechanisation Facility at the Institute of Agricultural Engineering in Hatcliffe, Harare.

In July 2021, the Forestry and Fire Fighting Equipment Facility was procured through Aftrade DMCC following financing by the Belarus government and during that year, trade between the two countries stood at US$25 million mainly through agriculture and mining.

Zimbabwe has also received support from Belarus including investment by the Bison Agro-Machinery Company in Willowvale, the equipment at Hwange Colliery and at the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company in Chiadzwa.