Harare (New Ziana) – Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko is expected in Zimbabwe next week for talks with his counterpart President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade said on Friday.
In a statement, Ministry spokesman, Livit Mugejo said the Belarus head of state will visit the country from January 30th to February 1st.
“The President of the Republic of Belarus, His Excellency Alexander Lukashenko, will pay a State Visit to Zimbabwe from 30 January-1 February 2023. During the State Visit, HE President Lukashenko is scheduled to meet H.E President Dr. E.D Mnangagwa,” he said.
“The visit is historic, as it is the first such undertaking to a Sub-Saharan African nation, by President Lukashenko,” he said.
Mugejo said the state visit was meant to boost existing bilateral relations between the two countries.
“The State visit is meant to strengthen the existing excellent relations between Zimbabwe and the Republic of Belarus. The two countries have strong cooperation in political, economic, mining, agriculture and Disaster Risk Management.
“Several agreements are under consideration and are expected to be signed during the visit. President Lukashenko and President Mnangagwa are also expected to launch the Second Phase of the Zimbabwe- Belarus Agricultural Mechanisation Programme,” he said.
In 2019, President Mnangagwa visited Belarus and signed several economic cooperation agreements with the government of President Lukashenko.
In a follow up to the agreements, Belarus head of Presidential Affairs, General Colonel Victor Sheiman visited Zimbabwe on a three-day mission during the same year.
In 2020, Zimbabwe and Belarus agreed on a US$50 million agricultural equipment deal on top of the US$51 million farm mechanisation facility.
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