Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, during a special meeting with President Vladimir Putin during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum held on 5 to 8 June underscored the development of relations between Russia and Zimbabwe, highlighting possible spheres of bilateral cooperation.  

According to Mnangagwa, "the West has just begun consolidating its power in Zambia. There was a time when Zambia and Zimbabwe were one; it was called Northern and Southern Rhodesia. It was made one by the British, but they are now separate. The Americans are consolidating their power in that country, both in terms of security and in terms of financial support to Zambia." 

Mnangagwa explained that despite the fact that Zambia and Malawi are very heavily supported by the West, Zimbabwe's economic growth is the fastest in the region. 

"It is regrettable and unacceptable that the collective West continues to peruse hegemonic tendencies that blatantly violate the sovereign equality of nations, justice and fairness," Mnangagwa observed. 

Zimbabwe is one of the few countries in Southern Africa that is regarded as anti-West.  Russia is however a consistent ally of Zimbabwe.  

Mnangagwa's speech has sparked criticisms across the media in southern Africa. According to Tendai Ruben Mbofana, a social justice advocate and research writer, the President seemed to paint a picture of a Zimbabwe under possible threat from the United States using Zambia as a launching pad. It came as a huge shock watching Zimbabwe President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa moaning to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, over what he perceived as Zambia's close alliance with the United States.   

Southern African region has been known for maintaining peace and stability by any means necessary – even if that meant states turning a blind eye to gross injustices perpetrated in their neighbors against their populations. As a matter of fact, Zimbabwe is one of those countries that has benefited immensely from this 'see no evil, hear no evil, and say no evil' policy of SADC. 

Granted, the United States, on April 26, 2022, established its military Africa Command (AFRICOM) in Zambia. However, it should be noted that this is not, by any stretch of the imagination, a military base.  It is merely an office set up in the US Embassy in Lusaka to assist the Zambian forces in the United Nations Multidimensional Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).  

For what reason did Mnangagwa make it appear as though Zimbabwe was under threat from the US using Zambia? Mnangagwa's statement has potentially positioned Zimbabwe as a regional security threat. This may demand the immediate intervention of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defense, and Security – which is, interestingly, currently chaired by Zambia. In fact, this may also require an extraordinary summit of the SADC heads of state to discuss this possible danger to the region. 

Russia-Zimbabwe relations were established a long time ago when it was struggling for political independence which it finally gained on 18 April 1980. Zimbabwe, with roughly 15 million people as per 2022 census, is a landlocked country in southern Africa. In southern African region, it is the biggest trading partner of South Africa. Zimbabwe is one of the members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

By Kestér Kenn Klomegâh