By Darlington Mutsvairi
President Emmerson Mnangagwa today launched a US$51 million Belarus farm mechanisation facility as government moves to modernise and mechanise farming in the country, a programme that was initiated in 2018.
The program which is between the Belarus and Zimbabwean governments in the form of a loan facility will see the latter receiving over 800 units of different farming equipment while the timber industry is set to benefit as well.
The equipment includes, 60 self-propelled grain harvesters, 210 precision seed drills, 474 tractors of different power capacities, fifth wheel trucks with semi-trailers for transportation of heavy equipment and four dump trucks, six semi-trailers with hydraulic manipulator for transportation of construction machinery, 10 drop-side trucks, fire fighting equipment critical in forest business, cities and other communities and emergency rescue operations.
President Mnangagwa disclosed that the negotiations started when he was then Vice President during a visit to Belarus, further pursuing the deal to finality in 2018 after he became the President.
In his discussions with his Belarus counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko, agriculture, mining, infrastructure development as well as science and education were their targets as key sectors to development.
“I had the privilege to visit Belarus when I was the Vice President to discuss cooperation, that is when we initiated and identified areas of co-operation, when I became president, I was able to proceed to Belarus. In my discussions with my counterpart, we identified that agriculture, mining, infrastructure development and science education, those four areas of endeavour are critical for the growth, modernisation and industrialisation of an economy,” he said.
Minster of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement, Dr Anxious Masuka indicated that today only saw the first batch of 163 tractors and 19 combine harvesters being officially handed over with the remainder expected in the country by year end.
“We are excited that the first tranche of 163 tractors and 19 combine harvesters is being officially launched today, but more importantly, the bulk of the equipment will be received before the end of the year,” he said.
Permanent Secretary in the Lands and Agriculture ministry, Dr John Basera weighed in by pointing out that the two countries have one big thing in common, they are both under economic sanctions but Belarus stands in a better position in terms of development so the bilateral ties between the two countries can be an advantage to Zimbabwe as she will learn and benefit a lot in terms of production.
“I had a discussion last night with our Belarus friends, I was impressed when I was told that they produce about 9 million tonnes of maize per year, whereas their population is around 9 million which means they produce a tonne of maize for every citizen,” he said.
The Belarusian delegation was headed by Industry minister, Mr Piotr Parhomchik who was accompanied by the Honorary Consul of Zimbabwe to Belarus, Mr Aleksandr Zingman, Belarusian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Alexander Sidoruk, president and chief executive of the Eastern and Southern Africa Trade and Development Bank Mr Admassu Tadesse and Development Bank of Belarus chairman, Mr Andrei Zhishkevich.
