Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that he is happy with the constructive relations his country shares with Zimbabwe.
He expressed his happiness in a letter on Africa Day in which he also said that he expected the good relations to be enhanced during the Russia-Africa Summit and Business Forum set for October in Sochi. He said:
I am pleased to note the friendly and constructive relations that our countries enjoy.
I am confident that the Russia-Africa Summit and the Business Forum that we will hold in Sochi in October will foster qualitative development of these relations and help us outline new forms of fruitful cooperation.
I sincerely wish you good health and success in State activities as well as peace and well-being to the peoples of the African continent.
Zimbabwean and Russian relations go back to pre-independence. Zimbabwean liberation fighters received their training from Russia. After Independence, the two countries continued working together in areas such as mining.
Critiques, however, argue that the relationship is not balanced as Russia, like China, is robbing Zimbabwe of its natural resources.
More: The Herald