Updated: Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko arrives in Zimbabwe

Harare (New Ziana) -Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko arrived in Zimbabwe on Monday for a three-day state visit which is expected to raise bilateral relations between the two countries to a higher level.

President Lukashenko and his delegation were received at the Robert Gabriel International Airport by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Vice President Retired General Constantino Chiwenga, former Vice President Kembo Mohadi, Foreign Affairs Minister Frederick Shava, several other cabinet Ministers and senior government officials.

Soon after arrival, President Lukashenko proceeded to inspect a guard of honour, which fired a 21-gun salute in his honour.

Thousands of people, who sang and danced while waving the Zimbabwean flag, also thronged the airport to receive the Belarusian leader.

On Tuesday, President Lukashenko is expected to tour the National Heroes Acre, after which he will go to State House where he will hold bilateral talks with President Mnangagwa aimed at deepening bilateral relations between the two countries.

The two leaders are also expected to launch the second phase of the Zimbabwe-Belarus Agricultural Mechanisation programme at the Institute of Agricultural Engineering in Hatcliffe, a few kilometres northeast of the capital.

President Lukashenko and President Mnangagwa are also expected to preside over the signing of a number of agreements by officials from their countries on a number of areas of co-operation.

Some of the areas that will be strengthened include energy, manufacturing, transport, agriculture and mining.

In 2019 President Mnangagwa visited Belarus, where together with President Lukashenko, they committed to strengthen cooperation in various sectors as the Second Republic enhances its engagement and re-engagement thrust.

Zimbabwe enjoys several benefits from the relationship with Belarus which include the two financing facilities of $50 million and $51 million for the modernisation of the agricultural sector.

Other investments include the Bison Agro Machinery Company in Willowvale, the equipment at the Hwange Colliery Company and at the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company in Chiadzwa provided by a Belarus company which is a global manufacturer of mining dump trucks and equipment for mining and construction as well as supply of buses.

There have been reciprocal visits by officials from the two countries with the most recent one being that of Belarussian Deputy Prime Minister Piotr Parkhomchyk who came to Zimbabwe in October last year to prepare for the visit by President Lukashenko.

Belarus-Zimbabwe trade has increased by 15 times since 2018 with plans to further expand trade and create joint ventures.

A broad range of Belarusian products made by the mechanical engineering, petrochemical, medical and food industries have potential for demand on the Zimbabwean market.

Zimbabwe has received over 1 000 tractors from Belarus within the framework of the second phase of the agricultural mechanisation program.

The two sides are expected to sign an agreement on selling tractors and other agricultural machines, with officials having since agreed the preliminary numbers of between 3 500 and 3 700 tractors of various engine capacities.

A contract with the Zimbabwean Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing is also being executed, which provides for the purchase of 131 fire trucks and back up spare parts, comprehensive training of specialists in the area of fire truck operation and repairs.

The first batch of 30 trucks is scheduled to arrive in the country this month.

New Ziana