Gibson Mhaka in MOSCOW, Russia
MORE than 3 500 participants from 74 countries gathered in Moscow for the successful hosting of the third Russia-Africa Summit and Economic and Humanitarian Forum, in a major demonstration of growing cooperation between Russia and the African continent.
Held from October 28 to 29, 2026, the high-level gathering brought together political leaders, government officials, business executives, international organisations and experts to explore opportunities for expanding trade, investment, industrialisation and technological cooperation.
President Mnangagwa’s presence underscored Zimbabwe’s commitment to strengthening its international partnerships and pursuing economic opportunities that support the country’s development ambitions.
The summit was attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin and African Union chairperson and Burundi President Evariste Ndayishimiye, with discussions centred on translating longstanding diplomatic relations into practical economic partnerships.
For Zimbabwe, the gathering was particularly significant as the country continues pursuing its engagement and re-engagement policy, seeking investment, new markets, technology transfer and strategic partnerships to accelerate industrialisation and achieve its Vision 2030 aspirations.
The discussions also resonated with the country’s National Development Strategy, particularly its emphasis on infrastructure development, value addition, beneficiation and strengthening domestic production capacity.
The Roscongress Foundation, which operated the Economic and Humanitarian Forum, described the gathering as an important platform for advancing mutually beneficial cooperation between Russia and African countries.
In a statement, the foundation said: “Russian and foreign business was represented by more than 1,200 participants from around 630 companies.”
The central event was the plenary session attended by Presidents Putin and Ndayishimiye, which examined prospects for expanding trade and economic interaction, implementing joint investment projects and strengthening humanitarian relations.
Mr Anton Kobyakov, adviser to the Russian President and Executive Secretary of the summit’s organising committee, described the gathering as the most productive of the three Russia-Africa summits in terms of moving towards practical implementation of joint initiatives.
“If we compare the results of the three summits, the current one can be called the most productive in terms of the transition to the practical implementation of joint initiatives,” he said.
“The agreements signed testify to the parties’ readiness to develop specific projects.”
Mr Kobyakov said African countries were increasingly interested in technology transfer, industrial cooperation, energy and transport infrastructure, as well as training national personnel.
These priorities are particularly relevant to Zimbabwe, which is seeking to leverage its mineral wealth, expand manufacturing and strengthen infrastructure to support economic growth.
He added that Russian businesses, including small and medium-sized enterprises, had considerable potential to expand their presence in African markets.
The forum featured more than 40 thematic sessions and panel discussions covering sovereignty, economic cooperation, human capital, technology and innovation.
Mr Kobyakov said Russia respected African countries’ right to determine their own interests and choose their international partners.
“We have always respected the right of African states to have their own interests and the ability to choose their partners,” he said.
The gathering also incorporated the Russia-Africa Media Forum, which brought together African media executives to discuss information exchange, disinformation and the role of journalism in strengthening relations between the two regions.
Youth participation was promoted through the Russia-Africa Youth Forum and the Second Young Diplomats Forum, hosted at MGIMO University, focusing on educational cooperation, professional exchanges and international opportunities for young specialists.
The Roscongress Foundation said Russia-Africa cooperation would continue through upcoming engagements, including the 30th St Petersburg International Economic Forum in 2027.
For Zimbabwe, the Moscow summit provides another opportunity to transform diplomatic goodwill into tangible investment, technology partnerships and economic development, in line with President Mnangagwa’s vision of building an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.
