Online Reporter
Amos Mpofu
THE Embassy of Belarus has affirmed the strong diplomatic and developmental relations shared between Zimbabwe and Belarus.
This came out during a study interface held at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre in Bulawayo on Thursday, designed to further strengthen academic ties between the two countries.
Deputy Head of Mission and Counsellor at the Embassy of Belarus, Mr Raman Kozyr affirmed the strong diplomatic and developmental relations shared between the two countries.
“I am sure you are aware that the bond we share is of the highest level, as our President Alexander Lukashenko visited Zimbabwe in 2023, and recently in May 2025 His Excellency Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa visited our country.
“They reached a lot of agreements during this visit, and because of this, we now have a comprehensive roadmap for our cooperation under the Vision 2030 agenda. These agreements are our guiding documents for strategic cooperation, and part of this includes cooperation in the educational sphere.
More than 55 agreements have now been concluded between universities in Belarus and Zimbabwe,” said Mr Kozyr
“I can tell you that since 2024, the number of Zimbabwean students studying in Belarus has risen from 9 to 100. This is still not enough, and events such as this expo are crucial in strengthening our partnership, recruiting more students, and sharing research data with local tertiary institutions,” he added.
The expo attracted high-school learners from across the Matabeleland region, private local institutions, government representatives and local residents.
In her keynote address, Bulawayo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Judith Ncube reaffirmed the national conviction that education remains a fundamental driver of development and prosperity.
She also acknowledged the growing collaboration between Belarus and Zimbabwe in various strategic sectors.
“We value the partnership between our countries and believe that education is a key driver of development and prosperity.
Bulawayo, with its rich cultural heritage and academic institutions, is an ideal host for this expo.
“We are excited to showcase our local talent in innovation and opportunities to our Belarusian friends.
Through this expo, we hope to foster collaboration, share knowledge, and explore ways to enhance academic and research partnerships between our institutions,” said the Minister.
“Key highlights of this interface include collaboration between the Belarusian National Technical University and our Polytechnic institution, Westgate Vocational Training Institute, and the City Council Vocational Training Centre,” added the Minister.
She linked the initiative to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s philosophy encapsulated in the mantra “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo, ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo — the nation is built by its people.” She emphasised that by acquiring knowledge abroad and bringing it back home, young people can play a pivotal role in rebuilding and advancing the country.
This approach, she added, aligns with a people-centred development model that fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility among citizens.
The event was facilitated by Dr Nothando Moyo, Founder of the Women Inspired Empowerment Institute and Mr Harry Zaranyika, Director of Study Partners.
Meanwhile, the Women Inspired Empowerment Institute, Study Partners, and the InBelarus Group used that time to collectively renew a platform aimed at providing career guidance to primary and high-school learners preparing for future professional pathways, while also enhancing research partnerships between local tertiary institutions and Belarusian universities.
Mr Zaranyika stressed the importance of such platforms in deepening academic collaboration.
“With this expo, we will foster academic ties, spread collaboration, and open doors for student exchange between Zimbabwe and Belarus. We look forward to fruitful partnership discussions emerging from this expo, as well as creating opportunities for our learners to interact with their future tertiary institutions.
For students who wish to study in Belarus, we assure the smooth flow of all processes. Visas and all other technical procedures are fully facilitated by us at Study Partners,” he said.
Mr Nikita Platonov, Head of the Board for International Recruitment of Foreign Students for Belarusian
Universities under the InBelarus banner, emphasised the demands and expectations associated with studying in Belarus.
He also clarified that Belarusian universities do not currently offer scholarships, and entry requirements vary — with some institutions accepting Ordinary Level holders who must first complete preparatory studies, while others require Advanced Level qualifications.
Dr Moyo, the founder of the Women Inspired Empowerment Institute expressed satisfaction with the turnout, noting that learners had the opportunity to engage directly with the Deputy Ambassador of Belarus and various institutional representatives.
She said she was pleased that both the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education and the Office of the Minister of State were present in support of the initiative.
Bulawayo City Council Junior Councillor Bukhosi Ncube of Mandwandwe High School said he appreciated the interaction, adding that he now better understood the strong bilateral relations between the two countries.
“From the knowledge of the good bilateral relations Zimbabwe and Belarus have, I aspire to go and study international relations, exploring new things such as foreign languages and cultures, which I will bring back to Zimbabwe to contribute positively to national development,” he said.
