The Airports Company of Zimbabwe (ACZ) has received a donation of facilitation equipment from Bison Agro Machinery, a Belarusian company, highlighting the strengthening relations between Zimbabwe and Belarus through their engagement and re-engagement efforts.
The equipment was presented to ACZ’s acting director of airport operations, Mr. Ronnie Masawi, by Bison Agro Machinery’s sales director, Mr. Andrei Kleinov, at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport last week.
In an interview, Mr. Kleinov noted that the bilateral relations between Zimbabwe and Belarus are continually improving. He mentioned the significant progress made with the support of the Zimbabwean Government, including the launch of phases 1 and 2 of the Agriculture Mechanisation Programme, which has brought 1,870 tractors from Belarus to Zimbabwe for distribution to corporate and private farmers to enhance farm mechanization, crop production, and food security.
Beyond agricultural machinery, Belarus also supplies fire tenders to Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, with 131 firefighting trucks currently being shipped to be distributed to councils across the country.
Cooperation extends into education, with Zimbabwean students being invited to study in Belarus, and knowledge exchange programs where Belarusian engineers train local engineers on the maintenance and operation of the supplied machinery. Additionally, there is collaboration in the food industry, with Belarus importing tobacco from Zimbabwe and exporting milk products.
Mr. Kleinov expressed optimism about future cooperation between ACZ and Belavia, the Belarusian flag carrier, suggesting that mutual connections could be established between the two countries’ airlines.
Mr. Masawi expressed gratitude for the donation, emphasizing that the equipment will be used at Zimbabwe’s eight airports. He hopes this cooperation will foster a long-lasting relationship and create further engagement opportunities with Belarus, potentially leading to direct air travel links between the two countries.
Over the past three years, Zimbabwe has received nearly 2,000 high-tech tractors, 80 combine harvesters, and other agricultural equipment from Belarus to modernize its agricultural sector and boost productivity. These supplies, delivered under concessionary rates through phases 1 and 2 of the Belarus Farm Mechanisation Facility, are now available across all districts. Phase 3, currently underway, aims to deliver 4,000 more tractors starting this year.
