Zimbabwe’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Frederick Shava, has said Zimbabwe will appoint an ambassador to Belarus in the coming months.
He made the remarks after meeting Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko in Minsk on March 28, according to BelTA.
The Zimbabwe delegation headed by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Frederick Shava is in Belarus on an official visit.
When journalists asked when Zimbabwe will name an ambassador to Belarus, Frederick Shava said:
Belarus already runs an embassy in Zimbabwe. Based on the principles of reciprocity, Zimbabwe has recently opened its embassy in Minsk. We have already discussed the interior works in the premises where the embassy is located. And this will be done as quickly as possible. Only after that an ambassador will be appointed. This will not be long in coming, within the next few months.
Zimbabwe and Belarus have maintained diplomatic relations since Zimbabwe gained independence in 1980. The two countries have signed several bilateral agreements in various areas, including trade, agriculture, education, and culture.
In 2018, Zimbabwe and Belarus signed a series of agreements during a visit by Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa to Belarus. The agreements covered areas such as education, health, and agriculture, with Belarus pledging to provide Zimbabwe with agricultural machinery and equipment.
Additionally, in 2019, Zimbabwe and Belarus signed a memorandum of understanding on industrial cooperation aimed at boosting economic ties between the two countries.
However, the relationship between the two countries has also faced criticism. Zimbabwe has been accused of human rights abuses and undemocratic practices, and Belarus has been criticized for its authoritarian regime and human rights violations. These issues have led to criticism of the close relationship between the two countries, particularly by Western countries.