The President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, has proposed to Zimbabwe a joint participation in the construction of a seaport in Mozambique, an initiative aimed at strengthening the Eastern European country’s strategic presence on the southeast African coast.
According to an official statement, the proposal was presented during a meeting this week with the President of the Senate of Zimbabwe, Mabel Memory Chinomona. On the occasion, Lukashenko emphasized the importance of deepening parliamentary cooperation between the two states and revisited an idea previously discussed with Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
“While reflecting on Belarus’s prospects in Africa, I returned to an old idea we discussed with your President. We urgently need a strategic presence on the southeast coast of the African continent. This means we should work together with Zimbabwe on building a port in your neighboring country, Mozambique,” the Belarusian head of state said.
According to Lukashenko, the project could include the rehabilitation of railway links through Mozambican territory to Zimbabwe, allowing that country to become a regional logistics hub for the movement of essential goods. He argued that the infrastructure could facilitate not only the shipment of Belarusian goods to Southern Africa but also the transit of products from other countries, particularly Russia.
“If we implement this project jointly with Mozambique and Zimbabwe, including the restoration of railway connections through your neighbor to Zimbabwe, your country could become a crucial hub for vital goods — not only from Belarus to Southern Africa, but also for products from other countries, especially Russia. We need to further develop this concept. I therefore ask you to remind President Mnangagwa of our discussion on this matter. It is very important for me to hear your opinion and that of your colleagues. This is a significant opportunity,” he said.
Source: Diário Económico
