Zimbabwe: Mnangagwa Steps Up Russian Offensive With Presence in St Petersburg

By Prince Kurupati

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa was one of the attendees at the just-ended 27th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). SPIEF which has been held annually since 1997 and held under the auspices of the President of the Russian Federation since 2005, offers an unrivalled space for dialogue and forging business ties to all attendees. Additionally, SPIEF attendees are also afforded the ability to expand their circle of customers and suppliers and to meet key Russian decision-makers.

To demonstrate the significance of SPIEF as an economic forum, the Russian President attends every event. As a sign of courtesy, he hosts welcome receptions for all heads of state and heads of delegations from international organizations. Thanks to this, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa during his welcome reception with President Putin took time to illustrate his vision for the future, aspirations for his country and the roadmap he would love to follow.

Outlining his vision, President Mnangagwa said that there are some huge obstacles and impediments which will inhibit the success of all his endeavours. Chief among these is the favouritism of the United States and the West in general. Highlighting in crystal clear terms what he meant by this, President Mnangagwa said, "The United States is making us feel lonely," by "consolidating its power” in Zambia through increased security and financial aid.

The US in recent times established a military base in Zambia and the move was not welcomed very much by the Mnangagwa administration as it was viewed as a signal for a shift in regional alliances. Moreover, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema's state visit to the United States was further perceived as the assurance that the West had indeed shifted its alliances. The choice of personnel that President Hichilema assigned as the Head of Mission for SADC's electoral observation mission Nevers Mumbai who in an unprecedent move went on to castigate the conduct of the Zimbabwean elections in 2023 further widened the diplomatic rift between Mnangagwa's administration and Hichilema's administration.

Considering that Hakainde Hichilema defeated President Mnangagwa's ally Edgar Lungu to become Zambia's president and all the friction that has characterised Harare-Lusaka relations, several top members of the ruling party in Zimbabwe describe the Zambian president as a western 'stooge' while their Zambian counterparts finger the Mnangagwa's administration as a 'destabilising' factor in their country operations.

Following the airing of Mnangagwa's welcome reception in Russia, the Zimbabwean president has received a barrage of attacks from both Zambian and Zimbabwean nationals. Many have called out the president for a lack of diplomatic skills while others accuse him of sticking his fingers in the affairs of another sovereign state. Some critics such as Joseph Kalimbwe called upon President Hichilema to expel the Zimbabwean ambassador in Zambia.

In a series of 'X' posts, Kalimbwe said, "Last week the President of Zim was in our country shaking hands & smiling with our leader who has no ill feelings on anyone. But 3 days later, the leader of Zim goes to Russia & starts talking badly about his colleague. As a people, it’s hard to trust someone who back stubs us... We must expel the Zimbabwean Ambassador from Lusaka as soon as possible. We are sick and tired of provocations from Zimbabwe."

In Zimbabwe, President Mnangagwa also faced criticism from former Zimbabwean foreign affairs and tourism minister Dr Walter Mzembi saying, "Something is terribly amiss with our Statecraft,  this presentation by an incoming Chairperson of SADC against a Member State to a Foreign Head of State is extremely unfortunate. I will leave it at that suffice to say I am extremely shocked by this recklessness."

Alluding to the same fact of President Mnangagwa assuming the SADC chairperson post from President Hichilema later this year, Sophie Mokoena the international news editor for SABC said the looming diplomatic fallout between Harare and Lusaka paves the way for an interesting chain of events leading up to the SADC ordinary summit to be hosted by Zimbabwe in a few weeks.

While President Mnangagwa's meeting with President Putin put him in the limelight, some Zambians including Dr Fred M'membe, the President of the Socialist Party Zambia (SPZ) said Mnangagwa's sentiments with Putin are "food for thought" for all Zambians to digest as "deep reflection" might reveal unwanted truths.