FRUSTRATED by the lack of movement in re-engagement efforts with the United States and European Union, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has pinned hopes on Russia to unlock economic benefits for the southern African nation.
Mnangagwa flew out to Russia Monday night with his close associates revealing to Zim Morning Post that the Zimbabwe leader was now focused on a fully-fledged relationship with the eastern Europe giant.
“We are now moving to strengthen ties with Russia after noticing that the US and EU are not willing to accommodate us. Our visit to Russia will help us forge closer collaboration on common interests,” a Mnangagwa close confidante, who declined to be named as he does not have authority to speak to the media, told Zim Morning Post.
“When the President first took over and went to Russia, he was hesitant of a fully-fledged relationship. He had hopes of re-engagement with the US and EU and had left room for these Western powers to come in, but there has not been any equitable dialogue.”
The Zimbabwe leader will be part of the inaugural Russia-Africa Economic Summit in Sochi, Russia, that gets underway on Wednesday.
At least 49 other African Heads of State are at the summit which will be co-chaired by Russian President Vladimir Putin and African Union chairman President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt.
In a pre-summit statement, Putin said Moscow was ready to expand its business interests on the continent.
“Russian companies are ready to offer our African partners their scientific and technological developments and experience in modernising energy, transport, and communication infrastructure,” he said.
Observers said Russia’s main focus during the two-day forum was to help it counter the influence of China, the US, Europe and Japan on the African continent and with it also help boost Russia’s economy.
“The Russian Federation, while exploiting its historical ties with African liberation struggles, wants to create a niche for itself and does not want to be left out in the new scramble for Africa’s extractive mineral resources and markets,” Ibrahim Khamis Adan, a retired diplomat who was deputy head of Mission for the Kenyan embassy in Italy and accredited to Poland, was quoted by The EastAfrican as having said.
“Russia does not have the economic muscle to help African countries economically, but will make promises and sign sweet deals on the same. African countries are focused on economic diplomacy. And debt relief from Russia will certainly excite some debt-ridden African countries,” Adan told The EastAfrican.
Speaking to The Herald, Director International Communication Services in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Ivanhoe Gurira said the summit was set to unlock economic value.
“Zimbabwe has warm relations with Russia. It is Russia and China that supported African countries, particularly Zimbabwe, during the liberation struggle.
“This summit follows the path of other great Asian countries’ summits towards Africa such as China-Africa, where you have big Asian countries beginning to consider investing in Africa in all spheres of the economy,” he said.
Mnangagwa is expected back in Zimbabwe on October 24 ahead of the anti-sanctions match set for the next day, Friday.
