The Sunday Mail
Kuda Bwititi in Minsk, Belarus
Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa arrived here yesterday and will meet Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko before signing major co-operation agreements between Zimbabwe and the post-Soviet State.
He will also meet Belarus’ Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich and officials from the local banking sector.
Briefing his delegation, VP Mnangagwa said, “The President of the Republic of Belarus invited our President, Cde Robert Mugabe, to Belarus, but when he sent a delegation to Harare some weeks ago, the delegation informed the President that Belarus was willing to support Zimbabwe in the areas of equipment, mining, road and dam construction and mining equipment.
“As a result, we sent a technical team three weeks ago to look at these areas and report back. We are very happy with the report, which our technical people brought. So, it was then decided that I come to sign agreements in these four areas.
“The President also accepted the invitation by the Belarus President. But before that, the two agreed that we should implement the co-operation agreement prior to President Mugabe visiting. This is why I am here.
“Belarus has much to offer to the growing economy of Zimbabwe, in particular, in the primary areas of the economy like irrigation, tractors and mining equipment.”
The VP and his delegation will tour a fertiliser manufacturing plant – one of the largest in the world.
Cde Mnangagwa is accompanied by Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Dr Joseph Made, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Dr John Mangudya and other senior Government officials.
