Zambia is in discussions with Zimbabwe following comments by President Emmerson Mnangagwa about the U.S. funding Zambia’s security sector. Mnangagwa made the remarks in a video while speaking to Russian leader Vladimir Putin at an investment summit in St. Petersburg.
In the video, Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe was seeking strong support from Russia as the U.S., Britain, and other Western countries had abandoned Zimbabwe. He claimed the West had shifted its focus to Zambia, consolidating its power there.
Zambia’s Information and Media Minister, Cornelius Mweetwa, told NewsDay that the country’s Foreign Affairs Ministry is engaging with Zimbabwean authorities over the issue. “Zambia and Zimbabwe enjoy cordial relations; we are one people. We do not want to make a hasty response, but our Foreign Affairs Ministry is engaging the government of Zimbabwe,” Mweetwa stated. He added that these matters are not for media consumption.
In the video, Mnangagwa commented on the historical ties between Zambia and Zimbabwe, noting that the two countries were once known as Northern and Southern Rhodesia under British rule. He suggested that the U.S. is consolidating its power in Zambia to isolate Zimbabwe.
Mnangagwa mentioned that the U.S. supports Zambia both in terms of security and financial aid. He stated that this support makes Zimbabwe feel isolated. Following the U.S.’s shift in support to Zambia and Malawi, Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe would seek to strengthen its relations with Russia.
Relations between Zimbabwe and Zambia have been strained since Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema took office. The situation worsened after the head of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Electoral Observer Mission to Zimbabwe, Nevers Mumba, reported that Zimbabwe’s August 23, 2023, elections were not free and fair.
The report led to angry reactions from some Zanu PF activists and leaders. Hichilema, who chairs SADC’s politics and defense, appointed former Zambian Vice President Mumba, who released the critical preliminary report.
Hichilema is known to have a close relationship with Zimbabwe’s opposition leader Nelson Chamisa, whom he invited to his inauguration in 2021. This relationship has further strained the ties between the two nations.
Historically, Zimbabwe and Zambia have enjoyed good relations, particularly during Zimbabwe’s war of liberation in the 1970s. During this period, the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU) and its military wing, the Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA), were based in Zambia under the leadership of the late Kenneth Kaunda.
However, the election of Hichilema in 2021 changed the dynamics. His administration has taken positions that have not aligned with Zimbabwe’s ruling party, leading to diplomatic friction.
As the discussions between Zambia and Zimbabwe continue, the outcome remains uncertain. Both nations have a shared history and mutual interests, which could help in resolving the current tensions.
Source: Newsday
