Fungi Kwaramba in MOSCOW, Russia
ZIMBABWE is committed to a multipolar world based on mutual respect, fairness and equality, President Mnangagwa has said.
Writing on micro-blogging platform X after attending the official opening of the Russia-Africa Summit here yesterday, President Mnangagwa said the world must pivot towards win-win cooperation.
“Today I joined fellow Heads of State and Government at the official opening of the Russia-Africa Summit, hosted by my brother and counterpart, President Vladimir Putin.
“The bonds between Africa and Russia were forged in common struggle and have been strengthened by years of mutual respect. Today, we reaffirmed our unwavering commitment to multilateralism, to win-win partnerships, and to turning agreements into concrete action,” he said.
Trade and security were on the agenda as delegations and leaders from dozens of African countries gathered in Moscow for the summit, co-chaired by Russian President Vladimir Putin and the current African Union chair, Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye.
Coming at a time when African countries are moving away from the export of raw materials, the summit has spotlighted the importance of creating new partnerships that will result in the African continent—home to the world’s youngest population—adding value to its resources before exporting.
President Mnangagwa, his Namibian counterpart President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (right) and other Heads of State and Government follow proceedings at the Plenary Session of the Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum which was addressed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Russia, yesterday. – Picture: Presidential Photographer: John Manzongo.
In this regard, Zimbabwe under President Mnangagwa is a pacesetter, having banned the export of raw lithium and already deriving monetary benefits from value-added mineral exports.
“Zimbabwe is not waiting—we are moving decisively to create value for our minerals through value addition and beneficiation. And we are resolute in our pursuit of a world order built on mutual respect, equality and fairness,” said the President.
Earlier, while officially opening the summit, Russian President Putin also spoke strongly about the emerging multipolar world.
“We are witnesses to the fact that the multipolar world is really becoming a reality. And this is an objective and irreversible trend. An era when the fates of entire continents were determined by a narrow bloc of states is going away irrevocably.
“A more just world is coming to replace it, in which the voices of all countries should be heard and involved in international communication. New centres of global governance, points of attraction and transfer, and a reassembly of the world order are being formed,” said President Putin.
He pointed to the establishment of the BRICS Bank as a signal of the evolving times—from unilateralism to multilateralism.
“All its participants stand for equality and respect, friendship and agreement, and act in solidarity in the search for answers to acute challenges and threats, in ensuring global stability and security, and universal prosperity,” President Putin said.
BRICS is an intergovernmental grouping of major emerging economies. It focuses on promoting trade, investment and development finance among members, and created the New Development Bank (NDB), based in Shanghai, China, as an alternative to the World Bank system.
Held under the theme, “Developing Mutually Beneficial Cooperation” and unlocking the potential of every African State, the third Russia-Africa Summit is being attended by 48 African countries.
The agenda covers politics, defence, technology, trade and investment, technology transfer, food and energy security, health, education and youth exchange, with more than 40 panel sessions and around 100 speakers lined up.
The forum builds on the first-ever Russia-Africa Summit hosted in Sochi in October 2019, which opened a new chapter in relations between Moscow and the continent.
Deliberations are expected to culminate in the adoption of a joint declaration and a 2027-2029 Action Plan for the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum.
President Mnangagwa is today expected to attend plenary sessions and also hold bilateral talks with President Putin.
President Mnangagwa last night attended a banquet that was hosted by President Putin at the the Kremlin.
