Isdore Guvamombe
Russia will host the third Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow on October 28-29, 2026, viewed by many in the progressive world as the cockpit from which alternative trade, economic cooperation, security and investment will be driven for the continent’s great future outside the Western matrix.
The summit is a buffet where each country will pick what is most relevant and important to its needs, and in the past Russia has not disappointed. No African country came back empty-handed.
What makes the Russia-Africa summit different and outstanding is that it is not a talk show, neither is it lecture theatre from big brother to young brothers like the US-Africa Summit or France-Africa Summit, but is expected to adopt the all-important, action-oriented plan for 2027-2029 on a win-win basis.
The fact that discussions will be centred on energy, agriculture, digital technologies, artificial intelligence and payment systems, makes the summit relevant while at the same time putting it on a pedestal to align with Africa’s need to advance and match up with everyone.
Africa’s growing ties with Russia are part of a broader effort to diversify its countries’ economic and diplomatic relationship and building alternative international financial models far from the existing pro-Western institutions.
What makes it very important is that the Russia–Africa Summit is a high-level international forum that brings together the leadership of the Russian Federation and African states—alongside representatives from the African Union and regional integration organisations—to expand political, economic, security, and humanitarian cooperation.
The Summit comes before the ink of Russia’s State Duma elections dries, a sign that Moscow’s cooperation does not stop or end with elections.
Zimbabwe
For Zimbabwe under President Mnangagwa, the Russia-Africa summit presents an important platform to deepen relations and increase co-operation that has been rising over the years.
Again, for Zimbabwe, Russia is a key member of the BRICS Plus, where Zimbabwe has made tremendous progress in joining and opening up alternative international funding systems for its projects, that include value addition and beneficiation of mineral products.
Thirdly Zimbabwe is a key player in the African Union and will be part of Russia’s broader co-operation with regional and continental groups.
It is anticipated that, as in the past, the Russia-Africa Summit will develop a win-win inter-sectoral development partnership between African countries and Russia in an era of global change, is more compressively arranged and much broader in scope than the US-Africa summit held in Botswana, last year. No pun intended!
The Russia-Africa summit touches all aspects of the society from economics, culture, politics, sports and little everything else.
There is something for everyone. All the aspects above will help Zimbabwe achieve Vision 2030.
Most important is the fact that the Russia-Africa Summit comes at a time when the Kremlin is increasing its footprints in Africa as a fair business player, without colonial hangover, and therefore, without prejudice.
Russia has emerged a serious investor into the future of many African countries, from health services delivery to mining manufacturing, technology transfer and military co-operation, among others.
Hardly a month after the Russia-Africa forum, there will be a BRICS summit, where a major shift on world economics is gathering momentum for the benefit of many developing countries.
Russia is a vital cog in the BRICS, which have made bold steps towards dismantling US economic hegemony on the world by offering an alternative currency and hence alternative world business matrix.
BRICS is also offering a lending bank for member states and affiliates and Zimbabwe has already applied to join the bank and has joined in principle.
Zimbabwe needs the BRICS bank and all its members to achieve Vision 2030, of a middle-income economy.
How good and how pleasant would it be before God and man, that, the world is turning out to move away from one bully superpower to a democratic order, where, nations respect each other.
A world where US big brother mentality and bully tactics have no place.
For all and sundry, Russia’s influence in BRICS cannot be downplayed. It is actually important for Zimbabwe to interface with Russians in spectrum their broad totality at the forum and win support from Russia ahead of the BRICS summit.
With support from Russia, Zimbabwe’s bid to benefit from BRICS will be made easier.
BRICS have shown keen interest in working with Zimbabwe and indeed, therefore, provide a good alternative to multilateral funding for Zimbabwe.
The current international money landing system has US control and Zimbabwe and any other countries under US sanctions have been disenfranchised by IMF and World bank, among other lending institutions under US influence.
This is no longer sustainable and the US must feel the heat and BRICS is the next choice for many progressive countries.
Back to the Russia-Africa summit, Russia is a major producer of grain. Russia is a leading manufacturer. Russia is a leading miner of any resources. Russia is a world leader in economics and investment.
Zimbabwe needs to leverage on its relationship with Russia to move away from US dirty tactics and the British’s hegemony on Commonwealth, which has systematically shut out Zimbabwe.
Russia and indeed BRICS give an alternative space for Zimbabwe where win-win deals can be crafted; where technology transfer for national food security can be achieved.
It is more beneficial for Zimbabwe to join BRICS than to rejoin the Commonwealth, where the Britain, the former coloniser has been making it impossible for Zimbabwe to rejoin.
Zimbabwe can continue making efforts to rejoin Commonwealth, but the British House of Commons has made it clear that they support the opposition in Zimbabwe and that they will not work with a ZANU PF Government until it gives the opposition to chance to rule.
Fortunately for them, President Mnangagwa is a very patient man, otherwise he would have long abandoned the bid, given the rate of chicanery in the British ranks and file, handling the Commonwealth issue.
From the programme line up, events are aimed at strengthening Russian-African cooperation on all fronts, and designed to determine the path of the development of Russia’s relations with African countries in the long-term.
Africa loves the part in which a cocktail of representatives from the relevant Russian ministries, Russian and African business leaders, and international relations experts will discuss the challenges facing Russia and African countries in an era of global change, and will talk about the most pressing issues and ways of resolving them to encourage the development of Russian-African relations in the economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres.
The summit’s business programme consists of four large topic areas covering all spheres of cooperation between Russia and the African continent: The New Global Economy, Integrated Security and Sovereign Development, Cooperation in Science and Technology, The Humanitarian and Social Sphere: Working Together for a New Quality of Life.
We await the good results.
Isdore Guvamombe is a veteran multiple-award winning Zimbabwean journalist and wordsmith known by the sobriquet, The Villager.
