Zimbabwean president Emmerson Mnangagwa believes guidance from his Russian counterpart to help surmount his country’s mounting economic challenges.
Referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin as a senior brother, Mnangagwa said he particularly looked up to the Russian leader for economic direction.
“Your Excellency, I would wish that we now attend to deepening economic cooperation between our countries, and our country is developing – it is a third-world country – so that you, as a senior brother, can hold my hand as I try to develop Zimbabwe,” he said.
The Zimbabwean leader is currently in Eastern Europe for an official visit scheduled to end at the World Economic Forum later this month in Davos, Switzerland.
Both leaders according to the Kremlin – Russia presidency, held discussions aimed at promoting bilateral relations and current international and regional issues.
In the Zimbabwean leader’s remarks as reported by the Kremlin, Mnangagwa stressed how far back relations between Zimbabwe and Russia stretched.
His request for economic cooperation fits squarely into the context of recent developments back home. Mnangagwa announced a fuel price hike before flying out to Europe.
A three-day social shutdown called by organized labour ends today. It has led to mass protests that have been severely clamped down by police in the two major capital of Harare and Bulawayo. The internet was also reportedly cut by authorities on Tuesday.
