dyton mupawaenda
Mukudzei Chingwere-Herald Reporter
ZIMBABWE is keen to strengthen ties with Russia and pursue membership in the BRICS group of emerging economies and its associated international development bank, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Professor Amon Murwira, has said.
Speaking at a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, Russia, on Thursday, Prof Murwira said joining the BRICS economic grouping was not just about political alignment, but enhancing economic growth and development.
BRICS is an economic bloc founded by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, who sought to provide an alternative economic order against the status quo which is skewed in favour of the United States and its political allies, to the detriment of the rest of the world.
In August 2023, President Mnangagwa participated at the BRICS 15th Heads of State and Government Summit in Johannesburg, where he was represented by Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga, as Zimbabwe formally presented its credentials to join leading economies in the emerging global order for the development of it’s economy.
After the meeting with his Russian counterpart, Prof Murwira spoke about the significance of Zimbabwe’s potential inclusion in BRICS and the BRICS Bank.
“Yesterday (Thursday), we discussed about joining economic groupings and one of the economic groupings is BRICS, which is basically made up of the Russian Federation, India, China, Brazil, South Africa, plus other countries that have recently joined,” he said.
“We believe that for Zimbabwe to grow, it needs to be in a grouping of countries that trade together, because trade grows economies.
“We are actually taking steps to join BRICS under the direction of President Mnangagwa. So we are on the way to do that and we are doing that in order to grow our economy.”
Prof Murwira said Zimbabwe’s Constitution demanded that the country should not only be Pan-African, but must join progressive groups that are good for the socio-economic growth of the nation while promoting peace in the world.
“Peace is fostered through economic development and BRICS is one of those groupings which Zimbabwe wishes to be part of.
“So, what we have done with the Russian Federation and many other countries is to coalesce around the idea of growing capabilities, and this comes through education, innovation, science, and technology,” he said.
Prof Murwira outlined the Government’s commitment to economic diplomacy, which seeks to secure trade partnerships and foster local production.
He elaborated on initiatives such as partnerships in education and technology with Russia.
Zimbabwe has applied to join BRICS and the BRICS Bank at a time President Mnangagwa has championed rapid economic growth anchored on infrastructure development and a strong private sector participation.
All these developments have been achieved using locally mobilised resources as Zimbabwe continues to grapple with the effects of illegal financial sanctions imposed by the US and its Western allies at the turn of the century.
Joining the BRICS Bank head-quarted in Shanghai in China will thus give Zimbabwe the much-needed fillip in its economic development plans as the bank was primarily established by BRICS for the purpose of mobilising resources for infrastructure and sustainable development in emerging markets and developing countries.
President Mnangagwa is on record as saying that after applying to join the BRICS Bank, the next stage would be to seek to go beyond the bank and join the grouping.
It will be an opportune leap for Zimbabwe’s economic development quest as the grouping’s global influence continues to grow, with over 40 countries having applied to join the group that already accounts for at least 25 percent of the global economy.
Online Reporter