Online Reporter
Sergei Berdnikov-Russian Ambassador to Zimbabwe
Relations between Russia and the African continent are experiencing a historic high, evolving from traditionally friendly ties into a full-fledged strategic partnership.
The foundation laid at the summits in Sochi (2019) and St Petersburg (2023) has proven its resilience despite the challenging international situation.
Today, we are entering a new phase of coordination, the logical continuation of which will be the third Russia–Africa Summit, scheduled to take place in Moscow on October 28–29, 2026.
As part of the third summit the Russia–Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum will also take place with the business programme focusing on the most burning issues of Russian-African cooperation and the development of practical solutions.
Africa is firmly establishing itself as one of the key centres of a multipolar world.
We highly value the honestly-gained capital of friendship and cooperation, traditions of trust and mutual support that Russia and African countries share.
We have always strictly adhered to the “African solutions to African problems” principle, standing in solidarity with Africans in their struggle for self-determination, justice and their legitimate rights.
We have never tried to impose on partners our own ideas about the internal structure, forms and methods of management, development goals and ways to achieve them.
Unchanged remains our respect for the sovereignty of African states, their traditions and values, their desire to independently determine their own destiny and freely build relationships with partners.
We are brought together by a common desire to shape a system of relations based on the priority of international law, respect for national interests, indivisibility of security, and recognition of the central coordinating role of the United Nations.
Zimbabwe is one of Russia’s close and reliable partners on the continent and our dialogue serves as a vivid example of how interstate relations should be built on the basis of mutual respect, sovereignty, and trust. We highly value Harare’s balanced and independent stance in international forums, including the UN.
Regular high-level contacts, close interagency cooperation, as well as the expansion of cultural and educational ties are laying a solid foundation for Zimbabwe’s participation in the upcoming forum.
Russia is ready to offer its Zimbabwean partners cutting-edge technologies in the fields of mining, agriculture, energy, and medicine.
President Mnangagwa has emerged as one of Zimbabwe’s prominent advocates of stronger relations between Africa and Russia, with his repeated visits to Moscow and high-level meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin highlighting the growing importance of the bilateral partnership.
President Mnangagwa’s engagement with Russia dates back to 2019, when he visited Moscow and held talks with President Putin.
The meeting focused on strengthening political and economic relations and identifying new opportunities for cooperation between the two countries. Since then, regular high-level contacts have helped broaden the scope of Zimbabwe-Russia relations.
In July 2023, President Mnangagwa attended the second Russia–Africa Summit on the sidelines of which he met with President Putin, reinforcing long-standing agreements in trade, security and science.
Another significant engagement between the two leaders occurred in June 2024 during the St Petersburg International Economic Forum. The meeting focused on strengthening economic ties, boosting trade and pursuing cooperation in strategic sectors such as energy and agriculture.
Last year on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War President Mnangagwa participated in the celebrations on the Red Square in the heart of Moscow together with President Putin, highlighting the strong solidarity of our nations.
During their meeting at the Kremlin, the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation, developing ties in the spheres of energy, agriculture, infrastructure, education, technology and security.
In December 2025, on the sidelines of the Second Ministerial Conference of the Russia–Africa Forum in Cairo, Egypt Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a meeting with his Zimbabwean counterpart Prof Amon Murwira. The two sides held a substantive discussion on the bilateral agenda, further expansion and diversification of trade, economic and investment cooperation, as well as implementation of promising joint projects.
Against this background, expectations are high for the third Russia–Africa Summit with President Mnangagwa leading the country’s delegation. For Zimbabwe, the meeting could provide an opportunity to build on the momentum generated by recent high-level contacts, attract investment and technical partnerships, and further position the country as an active participant in the evolving Russia–Africa relationship.
Today, the main task before us is to translate our solid political foundation into mutually beneficial economic and technological projects. Russian companies are interested in working more actively on the continent in the sphere of high technologies and geological exploration, in the fuel and energy complex, including nuclear power, in the chemical industry, mining and transport engineering and agriculture.
The changes taking place in the world require the search for solutions related to the establishment of new transport and logistical chains, the formation of a monetary and financial system, and mechanisms of mutual bank transactions that are safe and free from unfavourable external impacts.
Cooperation in the mining sector and the supply of modern specialised equipment is closely intertwined with projects aimed at strengthening Zimbabwe’s energy independence, including promising initiatives in the field of peaceful uses of nuclear energy. In turn, joint efforts in the agricultural sector — ranging from the stable supply of fertilizers to the introduction of cutting-edge agricultural technologies — support the country’s food security in the face of a potential climate changes.
All these initiatives are underpinned by investment in human capital: each year, the number of Zimbabwean students studying at leading Russian universities increases, creating a solid foundation for the exchange of knowledge and technological expertise.
The summit in Moscow will be more than just an international meeting; it will provide a powerful impetus for moving forward and will help establish sustainable, long-term mechanisms for cooperation that are not subject to external pressure or unilateral restrictions.
Russia does not impose ready-made solutions — we propose an equal dialogue and joint efforts for the sake of a stable, secure future for our peoples. Our partnership is not merely a story of past friendship it is a dynamic and forward-looking dialogue for the sake of shared prosperity.
Russia looks forward to welcoming the African leaders in Moscow and stands committed to a fruitful constructive dialogue. We firmly believe that the decisions adopted at the summit and forum, coupled with continuous diversified joint work will contribute to further development of Russian African strategic partnership for the benefit of our countries and peoples.
