Harare (New Ziana) -Zimbabwe and Belarus on Monday commenced a mid-term review of their bilateral cooperation agreements under the framework of the Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation (JPCC), with senior government officials from both countries meeting in Harare for a three-day review session set to conclude on April 16.
The meeting is being co-chaired by Zimbabwe’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Professor Amon Murwira, and Belarus’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr Maxim Ryzhenkov.
The review seeks to assess the implementation status of previously agreed initiatives in key sectors including agriculture, industrial production, education, energy, transport, and investment facilitation.
In his opening remarks, Yury Nikolaichik, Head of the Department of Africa and the Middle East in Belarus’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, praised Zimbabwe’s economic trajectory and expressed Minsk’s commitment to furthering cooperation with Harare.
He highlighted the successful implementation of the Agricultural Mechanization Facility Programme, now in its third phase, as one of the major achievements of the partnership.
“It is nice to see how this friendly country is developing. Belarusian-Zimbabwean cooperation continues at various levels from the Presidents’ offices to ordinary citizens. The most important result achieved so far was the supply of equipment within the third phase of the joint Agricultural Mechanization Facility Programme 2,” he said.
Nikolaichik emphasized the importance of supporting Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector through enhanced mechanization and infrastructure development, particularly in crop harvesting and storage systems.
Zimbabwe’s Chief Director for Political Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Mr Pearson Chigiji, who is also heading Zimbabwe’s delegation of senior officials, underscored the need to translate bilateral agreements into concrete outcomes.
He called on both sides to take advantage of the strong ties between their leaders to advance national development objectives.
“The close relationship that exists between our leaders, President Emmerson Mnangagwa and President Alexander Lukashenko is the bedrock upon which the Zimbabwe-Belarus partnership is built.
We must ensure that what we agree upon today is not only captured in written agreements, but is implemented. Failure to do so will render our deliberations void,” said Chigiji.
Key areas under review include sustainable energy cooperation, industrial modernization through joint ventures and technology transfer, and strengthening academic partnerships through institutional exchange and technical support.
The two nations are also looking to improve infrastructure and logistics in the transport sector to support trade and connectivity.
Investment facilitation is another key agenda item, with delegates expected to explore measures to streamline business processes and create an investor-friendly environment in both countries.
The outcomes of the mid-term review will inform updated bilateral action plans and set the stage for the next full JPCC session.
Both parties expressed optimism that the review would yield practical, mutually beneficial results and help solidify a long-term strategic partnership.
The meeting marks a deepening of ties between Harare and Minsk, driven by shared interests in economic cooperation and political solidarity.
New Ziana
