Mnangagwa offers Lukashenko minerals

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has extended an invitation to Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko to explore Zimbabwe's vast mineral wealth, as part of efforts to revive the country's struggling economy.

The offer was made during Mnangagwa's recently concluded working visit to Belarus, where he was accompanied by several senior cabinet ministers. The two leaders signed multiple Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), signalling deepening cooperation between Harare and Minsk.

"We see great benefits, including in the field of mineral extraction. Together, we can develop a serious framework for investment, which will ensure productivity growth in this sector and let our economies prosper," Mnangagwa said during the visit.

Zimbabwe boasts significant mineral reserves, including gold, platinum, chrome, and more recently, lithium, which has attracted a surge in foreign investment - particularly from Chinese firms. However, critics argue that the boom has not yielded tangible benefits for ordinary Zimbabweans.

Should Lukashenko take up Mnangagwa's offer, Belarus would join the growing list of countries rushing to secure a stake in Zimbabwe's lucrative extractive sector.

Back home, the growing ties between Zimbabwe and Belarus have come under scrutiny. On Tuesday, Edwin Mushoriwa, a Member of Parliament from the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), voiced concern during a debate on a bilateral agreement aimed at promoting and protecting investments between the two countries.

"We also need to be worried when we end up having a trade arrangement which can easily be manipulated and exploited by a few well-connected individuals," Mushoriwa warned.

He further criticised the way certain agreements - some allegedly facilitated by the Ministry of Local Government - had been imposed on local authorities, often using devolution funds.

"We cannot, as a country, continue to allow ourselves, as Parliament, to endorse this agreement. An agreement cannot be based on political friendship. It cannot be an agreement based on friendship alone," he added.

The remarks reflect growing unease over opaque foreign deals and the limited transparency surrounding Zimbabwe's international partnerships, even as the government seeks investment lifelines to stimulate economic recovery.