Grace Chekai
President Mnangagwa’s engagement and re-engagement mantra continues to bear fruits as Zimbabwe and Belarus celebrate thirty years of friendship today.
Speaking during the commemoration of 30 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between Zimbabwe and Belarus today in the capital, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Ambassador James Manzou said, “Your Excellency, we are gathered here this morning to celebrate a milestone occasion. It has been thirty years, since our two countries established diplomatic relations and since then, the relationship has witnessed unprecedented, exponential growth.”
Ambassador Manzou added, “The highlight of the relationship was the State Visit to Belarus in January 2019 by His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa during which our two leaders committed to strengthen co-operation in various sectors of the economy that include agriculture, mining, infrastructure development, science and innovation.
“In addition, several Bi-lateral Co-operation Agreements were signed providing a Legal Framework for that multi-Sectoral co-operation. Since that visit, there have been several High -Level visits between our two countries.
“Furthermore, Zimbabwe is deeply appreciative for the multi-sectoral benefits it has enjoyed on account of this Relationship, which include the two Financing Facilities of US$50 million and US$51 million for the modernization of Zimbabwe`s Agricultural Sector.”
Ambassador Manzou mentioned the Belarus Farm Mechanisation Facility which was launched by President Mnangagwa at the Zimbabwe Institute of Agricultural Engineering in Hatcliffe in Harare and the official launch of the Forestry and Fire Fighting Equipment Facility which was procured through Aftrade DMCC following financing by the Belarus Government.
The ambassador further said that the launch of the Forestry and Firefighting Equipment Facility was another significant development in the two countries` Bilateral Relations and had also contributed to the recapitalization of Allied Timbers Zimbabwe.
He reiterated that Zimbabwe is committed to strengthening and expansion of the two countries` bilateral relations
Ambassador Manzou revealed that Zimbabwe was ready to receive the delegation from Belarus’ Ministry of Higher Education during the second half of 2022 and looks forward to the signing of the Agreement for the creation of the Joint Zimbabwe –Belarus Agriculture Enterprise.
The relations between Zimbabwe and Belarus is in line with the Second Republic engagement and re-engagement mantra. Re-engagement attracts new revenue thereby easing the crisis of liquidity and fiscal deficit. Re-engagement also improves business confidence.
