KEY POINTS
- Zimbabwe and India to sign a defence and security MOU next month.
- The focus is on training programs and modernizing defence systems.
- Renewed cooperation spans defence, mining, education, and health sectors.
Zimbabwe and India are set to formalize their cooperation in defence and security with a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to be signed next month.
This was revealed during a meeting between Indian Ambassador Bramha Kumar and Zimbabwe’s Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri in Harare.
The agreement aims to bolster training programs, modernize Zimbabwe’s defence systems, and combat non-traditional warfare methods. Speaking about the strategic value of their partnership, Muchinguri Kashiri explained its critical position.
“The MOU will mainly focus on training programs, with our officers receiving further training in India. I will be traveling to India next month to sign the MOU. The main focus is modernizing our defence system,” she said.
Reviving bilateral cooperation
Ambassador Kumar stressed that Zimbabwe and India should restart their inactive joint commission and trade committee meetings.
According to ZBC News, he noted, “We have not had our meetings for a long time, and we want to resume these this year. These will include discussions between different ministries in areas such as defence, mining, and education.”
This renewed discussion works to enhance sectoral collaboration while revising partnerships that sustain educational and health projects, established as fundamental components of Zimbabwe-India cooperation.
Expanding strategic partnerships
Bilateral relations between Zimbabwe and India have developed through collaborations which initially focused on education and healthcare and now extend to defense sector growth.
The upcoming MOU will both strengthen Zimbabwe’s military capabilities and enhance the broad strategic relationship between their nations.
Zimbabwe seeks to address modern security challenges through defense technology knowledge obtained from India while achieving operational readiness objectives.
