Staff Reporter

Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector continues to attract strong international interest, with Belarus reaffirming its commitment to deepening cooperation through expanded mechanisation and industrialisation initiatives.

This week, a high-level Belarusian delegation led by Vice Prime Minister Viktar Karankevich visited Zimbabwe as part of the Mid-Term Review of the Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation (JPCC).

During the visit, the delegation toured Bison Agro-Machinery, a local firm owned by the Belarusian government, where both sides reaffirmed their dedication to strengthening agricultural partnerships.

“This visit marks another milestone as we seek to cement our ties and review the existing relations. The agriculture sector remains a top priority in the short to long term. We are particularly interested in expanding our support for mechanisation projects to boost food security and rural development in Zimbabwe,” said Vice Prime Minister Karankevich.

Zimbabwean officials welcomed the renewed collaboration, noting the transformative impact of Belarusian agricultural support on the country’s economic growth.

“The projects from Belarus have further scaled up the level of the agriculture sector, which is a key enabler of our economy. Their interest in investing more in machinery, including tractors, is a welcome development that will improve productivity,” said Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development Professor Obert Jiri.

Minister of Industry and Commerce, Mangaliso Ndlovu, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the broader economic benefits.

“Industrialisation is a key component of our overall growth strategy. Increased cooperation with Belarus will further enhance industrial capacity, job creation, and skills transfer,” he said.

Belarus has already supplied thousands of tractors and combine harvesters to Zimbabwe under various phases of the bilateral agricultural mechanisation programme.

The current JPCC Mid-Term Review, which concludes on Wednesday, is expected to consolidate these gains and lay the groundwork for new areas of cooperation.

The partnership between Zimbabwe and Belarus, built on shared goals of food security and economic development, is increasingly viewed as a model for South-South cooperation.

As both countries strengthen their ties, the future looks promising for Zimbabwe’s agricultural transformation.