The Republic of Zimbabwe and the Republic of Belarus reaffirmed their commitment to bolstering bilateral cooperation following a Mid-Term Review (MTR) of the First Session of the Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation, held from 14 to 16 April 2025 in Harare. This meeting, attended by senior government officials, ministers, and representatives from higher education and industry sectors, underscored the strategic alignment between the two nations in a rapidly evolving geopolitical climate.
The review was convened at the invitation of Honourable Professor Dr Amon Murwira, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, and was attended by Honourable Maxim Ryzhenkov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus. Also present was Honourable Victor Karankevich, Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus, who participated as Guest of Honour. The review session aimed to assess the progress made since the inaugural commission sitting and to map new pathways for enhanced cooperation.
Throughout the three-day deliberations, the delegations engaged in constructive and forward-looking dialogue focused on joint implementation progress. The talks were characterised by cordiality and mutual respect, reinforcing what both parties described as a longstanding and resilient partnership.
A notable development during the MTR was the convening of the Second Sitting of the Joint Working Group on Agriculture. The Group evaluated the efficacy of current initiatives in the sector and highlighted areas for intensified collaboration, particularly in agricultural innovation and food security. This comes against the backdrop of persistent climatic shocks and supply chain vulnerabilities.
The Commission further acknowledged the positive trajectory of bilateral relations, emphasising cooperation across multiple sectors including agriculture, education, health, industrial development, disaster management, and mining. There was collective satisfaction with the ongoing implementation of agreed Instruments of Cooperation and a renewed call for the swift conclusion of pending agreements.
Zimbabwe conveyed formal gratitude to the President of Belarus, His Excellency Aleksandr Lukashenko, for his government’s humanitarian assistance in response to the El Niño-induced drought. The support followed an official appeal by President Emmerson Mnangagwa and was presented as a testament to Belarus’s commitment to Zimbabwe’s national development agenda.
Both nations underlined the necessity of finalising pending agreements such as the Agreement on the Exemption of Visa Requirements for Diplomatic and Service Passport Holders, aimed at facilitating high-level diplomatic exchanges. More broadly, the MTR encouraged the easing of travel restrictions to foster greater people-to-people ties between the two states.
There was also a reaffirmation of support for the Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation, signed in 2023. This instrument is considered key to encouraging cross-border investment and shielding businesses from fiscal duplication across jurisdictions.
Sanctions featured prominently in the discussions, with both parties condemning what they described as illegal unilateral measures imposed by Western governments. They asserted that such sanctions curtail access to international financial institutions, impede trade, and compromise economic development. Particularly concerning to both delegations was the impact of sanctions on global food security and commodity markets, especially for inputs such as potash and agricultural fertilisers. The statement from the MTR emphasised the shared desire to work with like-minded partners to mitigate these challenges through economic diversification and resilience-building mechanisms.
Diplomatic solidarity was further reflected in Belarus’s support for Zimbabwe’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2027–2028 period. The two nations pledged to continue mutual advocacy within international forums for a more inclusive global economic architecture based on non-discrimination, equitable access to financial services, and the principle of sovereignty.
Belarus has also confirmed it will host the Second Session of the Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation in 2026. This upcoming session is expected to build on the momentum of the Harare meeting, focusing on the implementation of past resolutions while introducing new areas for collaboration.
Both governments affirmed the importance of maintaining regular diplomatic engagements under the Commission’s framework. Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov expressed appreciation for the warm reception extended by the Zimbabwean hosts and reiterated his country’s intent to continue supporting joint development objectives across Africa and Eurasia.
This meeting marks a substantive step forward in Zimbabwe’s broader foreign policy strategy of diversifying its international partnerships beyond traditional Western alliances. Belarus, a long-standing ally in energy, agriculture, and education, continues to occupy a pivotal role in this multipolar engagement strategy.
As international geopolitics continues to shift, Harare and Minsk have signalled their intention to strengthen bilateral, regional, and global collaborations rooted in shared values, sovereign equality, and mutual benefit.
