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Freeman Razemba Crime Reporter
A technical team from Zimbabwe is expected to visit Russia early next year to follow up on agreements signed between the two countries this year, as relations between Harare and Moscow continue to strengthen.

President Mnangagwa paid a three-day State visit to Russia in January where he met his counterpart Mr Vladimir Putin.

Deliberations between the two leaders centred on key economic deals, as well as matters of mutual concern on the international arena.

Cooperation between the two countries is presently defined within the context of a Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA) and the Zimbabwe-Russia Joint Commission.

Russian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Nikolai Krasilnikov held a meeting with the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Kazembe Kazembe at his offices in Harare yesterday where they discussed various issues pertaining to the Memorandums of Understanding that were signed.

Minister Kazembe said the delegation to visit Russia would be from his ministry, adding that they had a fruitful meeting with Ambassador Krasilnikov.

He said the discussion covered several issues, including cooperation, education, technology and economic matters.

“Mr Nikolai Krasilnikov paid a courtesy call today and this is a follow up to the two visits made by President Mnangagwa to Russia this year where he met his counterpart,” said Minister Kazembe.

“We held discussions over the MOUs that were signed.” Minister Kazembe said he was briefed about the 36 Zimbabwean students that were studying in Russia.

Mr Krasiknikov said they discussed how to implement the agreements to the highest level.

“We discussed how we would cooperate along the lines of these agreements,” he said.

“One of the issues is that next year, we are expecting a delegation from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage in Moscow.”

The meeting was attended by the Secretary in the ministry Mr Aaron Nhepera and Police Deputy Commissioner-General (Operations) Stephen Mutamba, among other senior officials.

Zimbabwe and Russia recently concluded multi-billion-dollar deals in various sectors of the economy ranging from energy, mining, tourism, health, agriculture to media, a development that is expected to ensure that Harare realises the objective of Vision 2030.

The deals were negotiated by President Mnangagwa when he visited Moscow in January and were concluded by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Dr Sibusiso Moyo when he was in that country early August.

The signing of the deals was in October during the Russia-Africa Summit which sought to strengthen and deepen ties between Russia and African countries.

There was also a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage of Zimbabwe and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia covering cooperation in the fight against violent crimes on human life, terrorism-related extremist activity, economic crimes and human and illicit weapons trafficking.