Online Reporter
Gibson Nyikadzino
Zimpapers Politics Hub
ZIMBABWE and India yesterday strengthened ties in defence collaboration by exploring avenues and areas of convergence to understand the needs of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces and the Zimbabwe Defence Industries while researching on new domains of warfare including Artificial Intelligence, drones and quantum technology.
At an event held in Harare, India’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Bramha Kumar said both countries are committed to working together as there has been a steady increase in the number of slots being offered by his country for training of ZDF members at Indian military institutions.
“Our endeavour is to take the cooperation forward and explore avenues and possible areas of convergence to understand the needs of ZDF and ZDI, deliberate upon the ways and means of collaboration through larger participation of our Industry partners.
“On the defence cooperation front, both countries are committed to work together. Training opportunities have witnessed a steady increment in the number of slots being offered by the government of India for training of ZDF members at Indian military institutions,” Mr Kumar said.
The ZDF have been offered more than 40 slots under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme for the 2025-2026 training year while also engaging with the Indian military in defence research and development, and technical training domains.
Ambassador Kumar said there was room for cooperation between Zimbabwe and India in joint research and development in modern domains of warfare including AI, quantum technology, drones and robotics.
Chief Director in the Ministry of Defence Mr Ignatius Mvere emphasised the importance of defence and defence industry cooperation between the two parties after their inaugural Mini Defence Expo and Industry Interaction held in Harare last year.
The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Defence Cooperation on the sidelines of Aero-India Exhibition held at Bengaluru in February last year and are looking forward to formulate agenda point from the MoU ahead of the India-Zimbabwe Joint Defence Committee Meeting scheduled for June in New Delhi.
