Harare, (New Ziana) – Russia has reiterated its support for Zimbabwe’s bid to join the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) organisation and its New Development Bank, said a cabinet minister.
Addressing the 13th post cabinet media briefing in the capital on Tuesday, the minister of information and broadcasting services, Dr Jenfan Muswere said President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin also agreed to identify alternative payment systems in order to boost bilateral trade between the two countries.
“Cabinet received and noted the Report on the visit to Russia and Belarus by His Excellency the President. His Excellency the President, Cde. Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa
participated at the 80th Anniversary of Victory Day which was commemorated in Moscow, Russian Federation on 9 May, 2025. The Victory Day marks the historic triumph of the Soviet Union over Nazi Germany during the Second World War.
“The President of the Russian Federation, His Excellency Vladimir Putin presided over the commemorations which were also attended by Heads of State and Government from Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America,” said the minister.
He said President Mnangagwa and President Putin held a bilateral meeting during which they discussed initiatives to deepen relations between the two nations where Russia reiterated its support for Zimbabwe’s bid to join the BRICS organisation and its New Development Bank.
The Heads of State, said minister Muswere, agreed to identify alternative payment systems in order to boost bilateral trade.
On his part, President Mnangagwa re-stated Zimbabwe’s strategic location as a logistics and manufacturing hub for Russian products for industrialisation purposes, said Muswere.
During the same visit, he said President Mnangagwa also took time to visit his embassy officials and students in that country.
“From Russia, His Excellency the President undertook a State visit to Belarus from 11 to 15 May 2025, at the invitation of the President of Belarus, His Excellency Aleksander Lukashenko. In a bilateral meeting, the two leaders discussed cooperation in several key areas, including Agriculture, Industry, Education and Technology Transfer, Health, and Disaster Management,” said Muswere.
During his stint in Belarus, Foreign Ministers of Zimbabwe and that of Belarus signed a roadmap for strategic cooperation for the period 2026 to 2030, providing for reciprocal visits and elevation of their bilateral cooperation framework to a Bi-National by 2030, said Muswere.
“The Memoranda of Understanding signed between the two countries covered the following areas: Disaster Risk Management; Visa Exemption for holders of Diplomatic and Service Passports; Tourism; Small and Medium Enterprises; and Waste Management. Letters of intent committing to cooperation on revamping healthcare provision starting with the rehabilitation of the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals were also signed,” he said.
