Fungi Kwaramba in Moscow Russia
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa is set to meet his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, for bilateral talks and then hold engagements with the Russian business community as he presses ahead with his drive to court investors from across the world, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Professor Amon Murwira has said.
The President is in Russia to attend the Russia–Africa Summit, which is running concurrently with the Russia–Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum. He will use the visit to advance Zimbabwe’s national interests as well as those of the African continent at large. The trip comes just a week after the President assumed the chairmanship of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).
Prof Murwira said the President, in his capacity as leader of the 21-nation regional bloc — which has a combined GDP of between US$1,13 trillion and US$1,23 trillion and a population of 650 million — will use the platform to ensure Africa’s voice is heard.
“We are very excited to be hosting His Excellency the President, our First Citizen and our Chief Diplomat, whose job is to ensure that Zimbabwe and Africa are represented on the world map with dignity and with fruitful interactions across the world — this time with the Russian Federation,” said Prof Murwira.
The President, the Minister added, has always advocated for a fair trading world.
“A world where there is interdependency. A world where we depend on each other through trade. And this Africa–Russia Summit is there to promote that integration between Africa and Russia in terms of trade,” he said.
“So, His Excellency is going to, first of all, be involved in this meeting as the Chairperson of COMESA, which means the President is representing half of the population of Africa — almost 700 million people — to talk about trade. Secondly, His Excellency will transition into a bilateral meeting with His Excellency Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, to further discuss our cooperation in all spheres, particularly in trade and investment.”
Particular focus will be on economic cooperation when the President meets President Putin.
“During 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,” Prof Murwira said.
“We are expecting a very busy but fruitful programme for His Excellency the President throughout this week.”
The two countries — Zimbabwe through ZimTrade and Russia through Roscongress — have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) designed to provide an interaction platform between Zimbabwean and Russian businesses. The MoU serves as a conduit for trade between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Zimbabwe.
Tonight, President Mnangagwa will meet Zimbabweans based in Russia.
“On Tuesday evening, His Excellency is going to have a meeting with at least 60 students who are studying here in the Russian Federation through our educational and scientific cooperation programme. That interaction will take into consideration the interests of those students and the interests of Zimbabwe, and help to promote the good and excellent relations that already exist between Zimbabwe and the Russian Federation,” said Minister Murwira.
Tomorrow, the President is expected to attend the Third Russia–Africa Summit, which will be co-chaired by President Putin and African union Chairman Évariste Ndayishimiye, who is also the President of Burundi. The Summit is the highest-profile and largest-scale event in Russian–African relations, aimed at bringing about a new level of mutually beneficial partnership to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Its goal is to strengthen comprehensive and equal cooperation between Russia and African nations across all areas of society, including politics, security, economic relations, science and technology, and the cultural and humanitarian spheres.
The President is accompanied by Minister of Economic Development and Investment Promotion Kudakwashe Tagwirei, the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Martin Rushwaya, Attorney General Virginia Mabhiza, Deputy Chief Secretary Mr George Charamba, Presidential Advisor on Waste Management and Environmental Sustainability Dr Dilesh Nguwaya, and other top Government officials.
