Online Reporter
Debra Matabvu
Senior Reporter
ENVOYS from the Netherlands, Colombia and Belarus have pledged their countries’ support for Zimbabwe’s candidature for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.
Yesterday, President Mnangagwa received credentials from the newly accredited Ambassadors from the Netherlands, Colombia and Belarus, who all committed to strengthening bilateral relations with Zimbabwe.
The Netherlands will be represented by Mr Matthijis Pieter Van Eewen, while Mr Yury Nikalaichyk is the new Belarusian Ambassador to Zimbabwe.
Ms Maria del Rosario Mina Rojas will represent Colombia.
Speaking after presenting his credentials at State House in Harare, Ambassador Nikalaichyk said Belarus would continue to support Zimbabwe in international fora, particularly in its bid for the UNSC seat in elections scheduled for June this year.
Already Zimbabwe has received endorsement from AU member states and global powers like China and Russia.
Ambassador Nikalaichyk added that the two countries would continue to cooperate in key sectors such as agriculture, health, education and tourism, further enhancing bilateral relations.
“Belarus and Zimbabwe enjoy a strategic level of friendship, openness and partnership between our two nations,” he said.
“We support each other in international fora and Belarus recently supported Zimbabwe’s bid for the UNSC seat for 2027. We are committed to supporting each other in international fora.
“The two countries have built mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, with the flagship being the Agricultural Mechanisation Facility programme, which has been running since 2020 and has enhanced Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector.
“We will continue to cooperate in areas of education, tourism, healthcare, security and agriculture. Various projects are already on board, which are set to be implemented soon, signed during President Mnangagwa’s visit to Belarus last year.”
Ambassador Nikalaichyk said during his tenure he will travel across the country to experience the cultural and social aspects of Zimbabwe.
“We are also committed to exploring more options for mutually beneficial cooperation.
“I received valuable instructions from President Mnangagwa to work as hard as possible to promote our bilateral relations, and this resonates with the instructions I was given by HE Aleksandr Lukashenko,” he said.
“President Mnangagwa also instructed me to visit various places in Zimbabwe and experience the social aspects of the country.”
Ambassador Van Eewen said he will work to enhance relations between the two countries, especially in the agriculture sector.
“Trade figures have doubled over the last four years, and most of your agricultural products are going to the Netherlands, so trade is doing very well between our two nations,” he said.
“I can tell you that 75 percent of all horticultural products are being exported to the Netherlands from Zimbabwe. That includes flowers, avocados, peas and berries, of course.
“However, I think, as an ambassador, that there is more potential for growth, so that is something we are going to focus on in the coming years to strengthen the relationship.”
Ambassador Mina Rojas said Colombia is working on strengthening relations with Zimbabwe through enhancing trade and investment.
“We have had very friendly and stable relations with Zimbabwe. However, Colombia has identified that it needs to enhance its relations with Zimbabwe,” she said.
“We do not have much trade, and we want to enhance that trade and business, especially in areas that include empowerment of women and youth.
“Colombia supports Africa having a seat at the UNSC, so it is very important for us to have an alliance with Zimbabwe.”
