Chronicle Editor
Mabasa Sasa in Minsk
COMMERCIAL, political and cultural ties between Zimbabwe and Belarus have received a major boost following President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s opening of an Honorary Consul in central Minsk on Thursday.
Prominent businessman Mr Aleksandr Zingman, who has been advancing the cause of strengthening the Zimbabwe-Belarus relationship in recent years, has been appointed the Honorary Consul.
The opening of the consul preceded a meeting between President Mnangagwa and President Lukashenko at the Presidential Palace in the Belarussian capital.
Zimbabwe and Belarus already have memoranda of understanding that cover mining; science, technology and innovation; trade and economic co-operation; procurement of agri-equipment; and fertiliser supply.
President Mnangagwa has secured a US$120 million export credit line for the supply of machinery and equipment for agriculture, dam construction and mining.
Equipment from Belarus has boosted Hwange Colliery’s monthly output from 50 000 tonnes to 250 000; and that of the Zimbabwe Mining Development Company to 40 000 carats of diamonds.
derick.khumalo