Fungi Kwaramba in MOSCOW, Russia
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa arrived in Russia yesterday for the third Russia-Africa Summit and Economic Forum, where Zimbabwe will push for concrete economic gains to accelerate diversification, boost trade and create jobs for the youth.
The President, who is also Chairman of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), stated that his delegation would engage in high-level discussions aimed at “securing tangible benefits for our nation.”
“I have safely arrived in Moscow, Russia, ahead of the third Russia-Africa Summit and Economic Forum,” he said.
“Over the next few days, we will engage in critical high-level discussions centred on our shared priorities under the theme ‘For Peace, Security, and Development.’ Our participation focuses on securing tangible benefits for our nation—driving economic diversification, boosting industrial trade, and creating sustainable jobs for our youth.”
President Mnangagwa shares a lighter moment with Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Professor Amon Murwira (right) as Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Russia Mr Mark Grey Marongwe (left) and Russian Government officials look on in Moscow yesterday.
Beyond the summit, President Mnangagwa is expected to hold bilateral talks with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, and address the Zimbabwean diaspora.
Zimbabwe and Russia enjoy strong bilateral relations cemented during Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle, when the then Soviet Union provided material and moral support to freedom fighters. Over the years, those ties have deepened, with the two countries standing together on international platforms.
“Through mutual respect and win-win partnerships, we aim to accelerate growth in key sectors, including energy, food security, digital transformation, and technology,” the President said.
He was received on arrival by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister, Professor Amon Murwira, Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Russia, Grey Marongwe, and embassy officials.
The third Russia-Africa Summit, the highest-profile event in Russian-African relations, focuses on artificial intelligence, food security, trade, investment, digitalisation, and nuclear energy cooperation. It aims to strengthen comprehensive and equal cooperation between Russia and African nations across politics, security, economic relations, science, technology, and cultural and humanitarian spheres.
President Mnangagwa will attend the summit in his capacity as COMESA chairperson.
The President is welcomed to Moscow with classic ceremonial tea, bread and salt, a traditional Russian Federation gesture symbolising hospitality, respect and goodwill. – Pictures: Presidential Photographer: John Manzongo.
The Russia-Africa Summit will run concurrently with the Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum.
The summit, the third of its kind, will be co-chaired by Russian President Putin and African Union Chairman Évariste Ndayishimiye, who is also the President of Burundi.
It is the largest-scale event in Russian-African relations, aimed at promoting comprehensive cooperation across multiple strategic sectors.
In an interview, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Professor Amon Murwira, said that among other engagements, the President would also meet with Russian businesspeople.
“Throughout his visit, His Excellency is also going to interact with businesspeople from the Russian Federation as part of our economic cooperation agenda and our economic diplomacy drive.
“We are expecting a very busy, but fruitful programme for His Excellency the President throughout this week before he departs for our motherland, before he departs for Zimbabwe. So far, so good.
“His Excellency has arrived safely in the Russian Federation. He has been well received, and has just been briefed on his programme for his visit,” said Prof Murwira.
The minister added that as the Chief Diplomat of Zimbabwe and Chairman of COMESA, President Mnangagwa’s mission was to ensure that Zimbabwe and Africa were represented on the global stage with dignity and through fruitful interactions.
