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Africa Moyo
Deputy News Editor
ZIMBABWE’s Ambassador to Belarus, Ignatius Mudzimba, has paid a courtesy call on new Belarus Foreign Affairs Minister, Maxim Ryzhenkov.
The two met on Monday in Minsk and discussed a number of issues including Harare’s request for food assistance in the wake of low harvests due to El Nino, the third farm mechanisation scheme and exports of horticultural products.
Minister Ryzhenkov was appointed by Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko in June 2024.
Yesterday, Ambassador Mudzimba said his courtesy call served a dual purpose; an introductory and familiarisation meeting between the two as well as a review of the bilateral co-operation between Harare and Minsk.
Both Minister Ryzhenkov and Ambassador Mudzimba were happy with the progression of relations between their two countries, which have exchanged high level delegations in the last few years.
The two committed to expand the scope of co-operation between the two countries.
Turning to exports of horticultural products, Ambassador Mudzimba informed Minister Ryzhenkov that Zimbabwe was keen to export avocados, citrus, blueberries and cut flowers to Belarus.
In response to Zimbabwe’s appeal for food following the El Nino-induced drought, Minister Ryzhenkov said his government was willing to help a needy friend whenever they were called upon.
In April, President Mnangagwa declared a State of Disaster and pleaded with the world to help the country get food and ensure no one dies of hunger.
In terms of Zimbabwe’s agriculture mechanisation programme, Minister Ryzhenkov said Belarus was pleased with the programmes that have already been achieved, helping Harare to move towards food security.
Factories and companies charged with the success of the Third Mechanisation Programme were ready with agriculture equipment.
Picking from the resolutions of the inaugural Joint Permanent Commission on Co-operation held in February and in line with President Mnangagwa’s vision on industrialisation, Ambassador Mudzimba said Zimbabwe wishes to migrate from a recipient of finished mechanical equipment, to a manufacturing and regional distribution hub of Belarusian equipment.
In that regard, Belarus is expected to set up a manufacturing plant in Zimbabwe and use locally available resources.
He singled out the U$1,5 billion Manhize steel plant being implemented by Dinson Iron and Steel Company (Disco) as one of the greatest sources of any steel Belarus would need to use in the manufacture of mechanical equipment.
Minister Ryzhenkov said he was delighted by the proposal and promised that his government would look at the technical issues during a planned visit, which will include the Deputy Prime Minister Nikolay Snopkov and businesspeople in the near future.
He promised a productive visit to Africa where Belarus was geared to review all possibilities to grow their markets.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter