Zimbabwe's ruling party hails Russia's political support

Zanu-PF has hailed the political support the country has been given by their Russia both  pre and post-independence saying this has further strengthened the bilateral relations between the two countries.

Speaking at a stakeholders meeting with a visiting Russian delegation that arrived in Zimbabwe on Wednesday to explore business opportunities in the country, Zanu-PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa said the ruling party will always open its doors to Russia.

"We are a country which fought for its independence and one of the supporters during that time was the Russian Federation," he said.

"Without your support it would not have been possible for the Southern African region to be free states, so they pay particular respect to the historical militancy of the Russian people in support of the national liberation movement in Southern Africa.

"We know that in 1917 you were the first European country to give guns outside of Europe. You helped us get out freedom that was a very important decision".

Mutsvangwa also said Zanu-PF is grateful for Russia's support at the United Nations.

"Our party, Zanu-PF is particularly grateful that at the United Nations where we were subjected to attacks, Russia stood with us and vetoed against the resolutions by the Western countries against Zimbabwe," he said.

"We salute your president, President Putin  and we stand always by the Russian people because you have been always free and loving to the whole of the humankind.

"We have the most structured and organised people on the African continent because we fought a war against the most feared imperial power and won. We are very politically stable and we have spent 20 years being attacked by the west but we are solid and have confidence in our political settings."