Harare, (New Ziana) – President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Thursday received letters of credence from ambassador-designates from the Netherlands, Belarus and Colombia at the State House.
The envoys separately briefed journalists after their audience with President Mnangagwa, immediately signaling renewed momentum in bilateral relations between their respective countries and Zimbabwe, outlining priorities centred on trade, investment and sectoral cooperation.
Ambassador-designate Mathijs Pieter van Eewen of the Netherlands described relations between Harare and The Hague as excellent, highlighting significant growth in trade volumes in recent years.
“Trade has doubled with Zimbabwe over the past four years. Seventy-five percent of horticultural products in Zimbabwe are finding their way to the Netherlands, such as avocados, berries, flowers and peas,” he said.
He noted that discussions with President Mnangagwa focused on expanding these gains, particularly in horticulture, where the Netherlands plays a pivotal role as a European gateway.
“The President acknowledged that the Netherlands is an important player in the field of horticulture with Zimbabwe. He also acknowledged that the Netherlands, which has one of the biggest airports in Europe, is a gateway for Zimbabwe’s products,” he said.
The envoy expressed optimism about scaling up cooperation. “As an ambassador, I think there is more than actually can be done. That is what we will focus on in the coming years while also continuing to strengthen relationships,” he added.
Meanwhile, Belarusian ambassador-designate Nikolai Nikalaichyk underscored what he termed a “strategic level of friendship, openness and partnership” between Harare and Minsk.
“We support each other on the international arena,” he said, noting that Belarus recently backed the bid by Zimbabwe for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for 2027.
“Our flagship cooperation is, of course, on the agricultural mechanization programs which have run since 2020. We hope to continue with this program, which has benefited Zimbabwe to produce more crops,” Nikalaichyk said.
He added that cooperation between the two countries extends to education, tourism, trade, security and health care, anchored by a partnership roadmap signed during President Mnangagwa’s State visit to Belarus last year.
On her part, Colombian ambassador designate Maria del Rosario Mina Rojas said while relations between Harare and Bogotá remain cordial, there is a pressing need to translate goodwill into tangible economic outcomes.
“We have cordial relations with Zimbabwe. There is, however, need for the relationship to be concrete with enhanced trade and investment. At the moment, trade between the two countries is very low, and this is one of the issues we discussed with the President,” he said.
Rojas emphasized Colombia’s interest in initiatives that promote social development, particularly among women and young people.
“We take seriously areas of cooperation that benefit women, their empowerment and training of youth,” she said, adding that Colombia also supports Zimbabwe’s bid for a UN Security Council seat.
“As Colombia, we value the participation of African countries at UN institutions,” she said.
The presentation of credentials marks the formal assumption of duty by the envoys, paving the way for deeper diplomatic engagement as the country continues to pursue economic diplomacy and broaden its international partnerships.
New Ziana
