Zimbabwe steps up push for BRICS membership

Zimbabwe has intensified efforts to secure membership in the BRICS bloc as Government ramps up diplomatic engagement with the grouping in a bid to broaden international partnerships and strengthen the country's global standing.

The renewed push comes amid growing geopolitical uncertainty, with many Global South countries increasingly seeking alternative alliances to counter Western-dominated economic and political systems. It also coincides with a wider realignment of the post-World War II global order, marked by deepening fractures within traditional Western alliances.

In an interview, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Professor Amon Murwira said Zimbabwe was actively engaging BRICS member states to fast-track its admission into the bloc.

"Zimbabwe is ready to integrate more deeply into the global community, and joining blocs such as BRICS is very important for us in expanding our economic involvement and integrating Zimbabwe into the global economy," Prof Murwira said.

He revealed that President Mnangagwa had directed him to personally oversee Zimbabwe's engagement with BRICS countries.

"We have formally approached all BRICS member states and we are looking forward to participating in BRICS in the categories that are allowable within the framework of the bloc," he said.

"We have written formally and we are awaiting feedback from our colleagues. I was directed by His Excellency, the President, to engage my counterparts in foreign affairs, and we have done so and continue to do so."

Analysts say rising geopolitical tensions, trade disputes and policy divergences among Western powers — worsened by the return to office of United States President Donald Trump last year — have weakened long-standing multilateral frameworks. This has accelerated the shift towards a more multipolar world order in which emerging economies, particularly in Asia, play an increasingly influential role.

Against this backdrop, BRICS is gaining traction as a more stable and pragmatic platform for cooperation, especially for smaller and developing economies seeking alternatives to Western financial systems and political conditionalities.

BRICS was formed in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India and China, with South Africa joining in 2010. The grouping has since expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates.

Partner countries that are not yet full members include Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.

The bloc aims to reform the global economic architecture by reducing reliance on Western-dominated institutions and promoting a multipolar world order. It has increasingly positioned itself as a collective voice for developing nations, advancing South–South cooperation, trade in local currencies and alternative development financing.

Zimbabwe formally expressed interest in joining BRICS and its financial arm, the New Development Bank (NDB), last year, with Russia, South Africa and Brazil publicly pledging to support Harare's application.

Membership is widely viewed as a strategic opportunity for Zimbabwe to access alternative sources of funding, diversify export markets, reduce dependence on the US dollar and strengthen its geopolitical leverage.

Political analyst Mr Methuseli Moyo said BRICS membership would significantly deepen Zimbabwe's economic and political ties with emerging economies.

"Joining BRICS would entrench Zimbabwe's trade and business relations with some of the fastest-growing economies in the world on more mutually beneficial terms," he said.

"It would also enhance Zimbabwe's influence on global political and trade issues through closer cooperation with BRICS member states."

Mr Moyo added that Zimbabwe stood to benefit from improved access to development finance, technology transfer and infrastructure investment.

"Technology transfer is critical for development, and BRICS offers significant opportunities in that regard," he said.

"This also reduces over-reliance on the Western bloc, which has historically used aid, loans and technology as instruments of political and economic control."

He noted that Zimbabwe could also leverage BRICS partnerships to expand sectors such as tourism by tapping into large emerging markets.

Joining the New Development Bank, headquartered in Shanghai, would give Zimbabwe access to concessional funding for infrastructure and sustainable development projects. The bank was established to mobilise resources for emerging markets and developing countries, offering an alternative to traditional Western-led financial institutions.