'Zimbabwe-Russia ties to deepen'

Emmerson Mnangagwa has said Zimbabwe and Russia will continue strengthening long-standing relations spanning trade, political cooperation and the health sector, following a farewell courtesy call from outgoing Russian ambassador to Zimbabwe Nikolai Krasilnikov in Harare.

The meeting, held at Munhumutapa Offices, focused on consolidating bilateral ties that both sides say have deepened over the past six and a half years.

Writing on social media platform X, President Mnangagwa said the two countries "celebrate strengthened ties in trade, politics and health, including the vital National Ambulance Project."

Ambassador Krasilnikov said relations between Harare and Moscow were at an "excellent level," with cooperation expanding across multiple sectors including infrastructure, aviation, cybersecurity and health.

He highlighted the Russia–Africa Summit as a key platform for further engagement, noting that African leaders, including Zimbabwe, are expected to participate in discussions on multilateral cooperation and global governance.

The ambassador said Zimbabwe's expected role in international affairs, including its anticipated tenure on the United Nations Security Council, would further strengthen coordination between the two countries on global issues.

"Zimbabwe and Russia are currently enjoying excellent relations across all areas," he said, adding that cooperation now includes projects such as the National Air Ambulance Service involving Russian helicopters operated jointly with Zimbabwean crews.

He also pointed to progress in cybersecurity training programmes, where Zimbabwean experts have been trained by Russian specialists through initiatives initially led by private firms but later elevated to national government level.

"Cybersecurity is now one of the major highlights of our cooperation," he said.

Ambassador Krasilnikov also extended an invitation to President Mnangagwa to attend the upcoming Russia–Africa Summit in Moscow, where leaders are expected to discuss trade, development and coordination on international platforms.

He expressed gratitude for the support he received during his diplomatic tenure in Zimbabwe, describing his time in Harare as marked by "true friendship" and strong institutional cooperation.

"I spent all these years in the atmosphere of true friendship, which enabled us to develop political dialogue, economic cooperation, scientific partnerships and people-to-people solidarity," he said.

He added that his successor would build on the foundations established during his tenure, guided by continued engagement between President Mnangagwa and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The engagement underscores ongoing efforts by Zimbabwe and Russia to expand cooperation in strategic sectors, particularly health infrastructure, aviation support and digital security.