Zimbabwe has received around 2,000 high-tech tractors, 80 combine harvesters, and other agricultural equipment from Belarus over the past three years. This equipment has been provided at concessional rates under the Belarus Farm Mechanisation Facility, to modernise the agricultural sector and increase productivity, <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/zimbabwe-gets-2-000-tractors-from-belarus">The Sunday Mail</a> reported citing authorities.
The machinery has been distributed to all districts in the country. The implementation of Phase 3 of the facility has begun, and it is expected to deliver an additional 4,000 tractors starting this year.
Eng. Edwin Zimunga, the chief director responsible for agricultural engineering, mechanisation, post-harvest agro-processing, and soil conservation, highlighted that the delivery of this machinery is a significant step towards modernising local agriculture. He said:
<blockquote>
The range of equipment that was delivered through the government-to-government programme covers issues to do with land preparation and tillage, planting and sowing, chemigation, fertigation, as well as weeding.
They also cover issues around harvesting through modern combine harvesters, and post-harvest agro-processing is also not left out . . .
 To date, out of Phase 1 and Phase 2, we now have in excess of 2 000 tractors, 80 combine harvesters and many other attachments that are being used in the agricultural mechanisation space.
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The range of equipment provided covers various aspects of farming, including land preparation, planting, irrigation, harvesting, and post-harvest processing. Modern combine harvesters have been introduced to improve the efficiency of harvesting operations.
Under Phase 3, there will be a focus on extending and upgrading strategic grain reserves. Farmers can access this equipment through farmer-friendly banks, such as CBZ, AFC Land Bank, Women’s Bank, and Youth Bank. They only need to make an initial payment of 15% and pay the remaining balance within an agreed period.
This initiative has resulted in a notable improvement in Zimbabwe’s agricultural machinery fleet, with the country now having 13,486 tractors and 303 combine harvesters, compared to 7,000 tractors in 2019.
Belarus has established BiSON Agro Machinery, a company in Harare that offers after-sales services, to ensure sustained support and maintenance for the equipment. The company also facilitates knowledge exchange and training between Belarusian and local engineers, enabling them to repair, maintain, and operate the machinery effectively.
Five years ago, Zimbabwe announced that it needed 40 000 tractors, at a time when only 9000 were available to work Zimbabwe’s 4 130 000ha of arable land.  The southern African nation looked to Belarus and other suppliers in a bid to plug the gap.
<a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/2023/02/01/alexander-zingmans-aftrade-a-main-beneficiary-of-agreements-between-zimbabwe-belarus/">One of the main beneficiaries</a> of business agreements between Zimbabwe and Belarus is Aftrade, a business headed by infamous Belarusian tycoon <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Alexander_Zingman">Alexander Zingman.</a> He was made Honourary Consul of Zimbabwe to the Republic of Belarus in January 2019. Aftrade has obtained contracts to develop grain storage facilities, supply tractors and harvesters to the government, and secure equipment deals in the mining and logging industries thanks to the visit of Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko to Zimbabwe.
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Zimbabwe also signed a US$51 million deal with US company John Deere for the supply of 1 300 tractors, 80 combine harvesters and other equipment. Zimbabwe engaged with India’s Mahindra, which abandoned a plan in 2018 to set up an assembly plant in Zimbabwe due to forex shortages.
<h3><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h3>
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Pindula News

Zimbabwe Has Received 2,000 High-Tech Tractors And Harvesters From Belarus To Boost Agriculture

One of the main beneficiaries of a slew of business agreements recently struck between Zimbabwe and Belarus is Aftrade, a business headed by infamous Belarusian tycoon <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Alexander_Zingman">Alexander Zingman.</a>
Alexander Zingman was made Honourary Consul of Zimbabwe to the Republic of Belarus in January 2019.
Aftrade has obtained contracts to develop grain storage facilities, supply tractors and harvesters to the government, and secure equipment deals in the mining and logging industries thanks to the visit of Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko to Zimbabwe.
Four years ago, Zimbabwe announced that it needed 40 000 tractors, at a time when only 9000 were available to work Zimbabwe’s 4 130 000ha of arable land. 
The southern African nation looked to Belarus and other suppliers in a bid to plug the gap. 
Zimbabwe also signed a US$51 million deal with US company John Deere for the supply of 1 300 tractors, 80 combine harvesters and other equipment. Zimbabwe is also negotiating with India’s Mahindra, which abandoned a plan in 2018 to set up an assembly plant in Zimbabwe due to forex shortages.
Belarus has already supplied equipment to Zimbabwe, but, says Lukashenko, that was only the first phase. <a href="https://newzwire.live/from-tractors-to-mining-alexander-zingman-wins-big-in-lukashenkos-us66m-zimbabwe-deals/">newZWire</a> cites him as saying:
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But it is just the beginning. We’ve launched the third phase of the programme to the tune of over US$66 million. It provides for shipping over 3,700 tractors, 60 harvesters to the local agrarians within the next 1.5 years.
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Aftrade and MTZ, one of Europe’s biggest tractor exporters, will supply at least 3 575 tractors to Zimbabwe between 2023 and 2024. Aftrade has distribution rights for MTZ equipment in the country. MTZ director general Vitaly Vovk said:
<blockquote>
The Zimbabwean market opened for Belarus machinery several years ago thanks to our reliable partner, Aftrade DMCC. We are glad that today we are talking about strategic partnership that envisages work on a systematic perspective basis. 
We know that last year, for the first time in the past 50 years, the country fully provided itself with grain. It is gratifying that the country succeeded also thanks to Belarus machinery
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The new tractors add to the 1 800 tractors and harvesters that MTZ has already supplied to Zimbabwe.
Aftrade was also awarded a contract to supply equipment manufactured in Belarus for the construction and modernisation of grain storage complexes. While no details are known, Agriculture Secretary John Basera recently said Zimbabwe needed to spend over US$275 million over the next three years to build new grain silos, adding 750 000 tonnes of storage space to the current 500 000 tonnes.
MTZ was a major supplier of equipment to Ukraine before the Russia war started, and also exported to the US and Canada.
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

Alexander Zingman's Aftrade A Main Beneficiary Of Agreements Between Zimbabwe & Belarus

ZANU PF members of Parliament (MPs) have joined opposition legislators in questioning the rationale of the <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2022/06/20/local-government-minister-directs-councils-to-buy-fire-trucks-from-belarus/">firetrucks deal signed between Zimbabwe and Belarus</a> which requires local authorities to import the vehicles. Each truck is priced at US$464 296.
The deal was strongly castigated by the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) which said Local Government and Public Works Minister, July Moyo had imposed the deal on local government authorities. 
The unclear arrangement, which <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/July_Moyo">July Moyo</a> said was a “government-to-government” agreement, could cost the councils over US$32 million with each truck being sold at US$464 296 each. 
Meanwhile, there are reports that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s associate, <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Alexander_Zingman">Alyaksandr (Alexander) Zingman</a> is the ultimate beneficiary of the <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2022/06/20/local-government-minister-directs-councils-to-buy-fire-trucks-from-belarus/">deal.</a>
This Thursday, ZANU PF MPs also expressed reservations over the deal. 
ZANU PF MP Rushinga Tendai Nyabani asked the Minister if all local authorities had requested that there be fire extinguisher tenders considering that they were not a priority for some. Nyabani said:
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If you look at other local authorities, especially in rural areas, what is important for them are riggers. In rural areas, for example in Rushinga, fire outbreak can happen after a long time, like two years.
What is important is water. So does it mean that all our local authorities really want fire tenders?  If possible we can ask them as to how important these are to them?
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ZANU PF’s Chipinge South MP Enock Porusingazi shared the same sentiments. He asked Local Government and Public Works Deputy Minister Marian Chombo:
<blockquote>
My question to the Hon Minister is that the fire tenders she is talking about – are they all the same like a one-size-fits-all approach or you have considered the different needs of the councils?
For example Chipinge Rural District Council, can it take a fire tender which is similar to Harare and Bulawayo? Did you also look at the capacity for making the repayments? From the resources that they have in Chipinge, can they match the capacity to pay back compared to Harare?
Why did you not consider the different sizes of the towns, a small town getting a smaller vehicle? There is no need to have a fire tender with an 80- metre boom in some of these small towns which have no high rise buildings.
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CCC’s Harare North MP Rusty Markham demanded evidence that councils asked for the fire tenders.
Chombo’s responses failed to impress the parliamentarians who demanded that her boss July Moyo should instead come and defend the deal. 
These questions being asked suggest that <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2022/07/02/parliament-is-not-aware-of-govt-belarus-firetrucks-tender-lawyers/">Parliament was not aware of the deal</a> and, therefore, begs the question, “how did the minister strike the deal?”
The debate is expected to continue next week.
<h2><a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h2>

ZANU PF MPs Join In Questioning The Zimbabwe-Belarus Firetrucks Deal

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has said Parliament is not aware of the central government’s firetrucks deal with the government of Belarus which shall see local government authorities spending about <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2022/06/22/zimbabwes-firetrucks-tender-likened-to-zambias-2017-scandal/">US$55 million of the councils’ devolution funds.</a> Local Government and Public Works Minister, July Moyo is being accused of imposing the deal on local government authorities. Reports say President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s associate, <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Alexander_Zingman">Alyaksandr (Alexander) Zingman</a>is said to be the ultimate beneficiary of the <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2022/06/20/local-government-minister-directs-councils-to-buy-fire-trucks-from-belarus/">deal</a>. Recently, a Chitungwiza resident approached ZLHR seeking clarification on the deal. Pindula News presents the lawyers’ update on the case:
<blockquote>
<h2>PARLIAMENT UNAWARE OF CONTROVERSIAL GOVT FIRE TENDER PROCUREMENT</h2>
PARLIAMENT says it is not aware of the existence of some critical documents pertaining to the opaque procurement of some firefighting trucks from Belarus by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works.
On Thursday 23 June 2022, Alice Kuvheya, a resident of Chitungwiza, engaged Paidamoyo Saurombe and Jeremiah Bamu of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, who wrote letters addressed to Dr Misheck Sibanda, the Chief Secretary to President Mnangagwa and Cabinet, Kennedy Chokuda, the Clerk Parliament of Zimbabwe and Zvinechimwe Churu, the Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, requesting to be furnished with a copy of the Government to Government Agreement between the government of the Republic of Zimbabwe and the government of the Republic of Belarus relating to the procurement of fire tenders on behalf of local authorities.
The request followed media reports alleging that the government through the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works had circumvented the public tendering system by commandeering both rural and urban councils to use financial resources meant for Devolution to procure fire-fighting trucks from Belarus.
Kuvheya, who said she is acting in the interest of public accountability, asked for the total cost of the fire tender equipment to be procured from the government of the Republic of Belarus, and the quantities ordered, payments made to date for the purchase of the equipment and outstanding balances.
The human rights campaigner, who is also the Executive Director of Chitungwiza Residents Trust, also wanted to be furnished with Parliament’s approval of the “Government to Government “Agreement as required by Section 327(3) of the Constitution including copies of all “Government to Government “Agreements entered into with the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the due diligence conducted by the Government of Zimbabwe relating to the suitability specifications and costings of the fire tenders sought and being procured and comparison in terms of the suitability specifications and costings from other suppliers.
Kuvheya said she is making the request for such information and specifications in terms of Section 62(1) of the Constitution as read with Section 7 of the Freedom of Information Act.
According to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, Dr Sibanda, Chokuda and Churu have a maximum of 21 days within which to respond to Kuvheya’s request.
In response to Kuvheya’s request, Chokuda on 27 June 2022 disclosed that Parliament is not in “possession of any of the documents” requested by Kuvheya such as the Government to Government Agreement between Harare and Minsk, the total cost of the equipment and quantities ordered, payments made to date and Parliament’s approval of the Government to Government Agreement as required by Section 327(3) of the Constitution.
</blockquote>
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"Parliament Is Not Aware Of Govt - Belarus Firetrucks Tender" - Lawyers

The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has written to the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works requesting documents signed between the Government and Belarus for the procurement of fire tenders on behalf of local authorities.
In a letter dated 23 June 2022 addressed to the Clerk of Parliament Kennedy Chokuda, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Misheck Sibanda and Local Government ministry secretary Zvinechimwe Churu, ZLHR lawyers Paidamoyo Saurombe and Jeremiah Bamu requested to be furnished with copies of the agreement. They wrote:
<blockquote>
… our client (Alice Kuvheya) hereby requests the following information which is in your possession, a copy of the government-to-government agreement between the government of the Republic of Zimbabwe and the government of the Republic of Belarus relating to the procurement of fire fenders on behalf of local authorities.
The total cost of equipment [fire tenders] to be procured from the government of the Republic of Belarus, and the quantities ordered, payments made to date for the purchase of the equipment the tenders] and outstanding balances.
</blockquote>
Kuvheya is a human rights defender and director of Chitungwiza Residents Trust (CRT).
The lawyers also requested copies of Parliament’s approval of the agreements as required by the Constitution.
Meanwhile, the acting secretary in the Ministry, Emmanuel Ngwarati, recently defended the deal, saying the cost of each fire tender of US$464 296 was cheap compared to regional prices which are in the range of US$500 000 and above.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2022/06/rights-lawyers-flag-belarus-fire-tender-deal/">NewsDay</a></h4>

Lawyers Demand Transparency On Belarus Fire Tender Deal

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s associate, <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Alexander_Zingman">Alyaksandr (Alexander) Zingman</a> is said to be the ultimate beneficiary of the <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2022/06/20/local-government-minister-directs-councils-to-buy-fire-trucks-from-belarus/">deal in which Zimbabwe will be buying firetrucks from Belarus.</a>
<a href="https://www.zimlive.com/2022/06/mnangagwa-pal-alyaksandr-zingman-nets-32-million-fire-truck-deal/">ZimLive.com</a> was told that the fire engines will be acquired from a Belarusian company owned by <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Alexander_Zingman">Zingman </a> who was named by Mnangagwa as Zimbabwe’s honorary consul in Belarus in 2019.
The unclear arrangement, which Local Government and Public Works Minister <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/July_Moyo">July Moyo</a> said was a “government-to-government” agreement, could cost the councils over US$32 million with each truck being sold at US$464 296. each, 
In a letter to town clerks, secretaries and CEOs dated June 20, Moyo’s local government ministry said each “rural local authority” would get one fire engine while “urban local authorities” would get two and “metropolitan local authorities” are in line to get three each.
Moyo, who is being accused of ordering the firetrucks without consultations with the municipalities, said the engines would “alleviate capital equipment shortages in local authorities.”
Government sources <a href="https://www.zimlive.com/2022/06/mnangagwa-pal-alyaksandr-zingman-nets-32-million-fire-truck-deal/">told ZimLive</a> that the ultimate beneficiary of the tender contract is <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Alexander_Zingman">Zingman</a>, a Belarusian mogul who has met Mnangagwa and members of his family more than a dozen times.
Zimbabwe has already bought 11 fire engines to fight forest fires from <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Alexander_Zingman">Zingman</a>’s AFTRADE DMCC, a dealer selling Belarusian machines in Africa. Zingman personally delivered the equipment in June last year. The consignment also included five Toyota Hilux vehicles and 30 motorcycles.
Zingman previously linked to the arms trade has put together unclear deals which have seen Zimbabwe import agricultural equipment and buses worth tens of millions of dollars from Belarus.
This is happening when Harare residents <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2022/06/01/community-water-alliance-petitions-harare-to-terminate-pomona-dumpsite-deal/">have dragged Moyo to court</a> after he pushed through a contract for a waste-to-energy project at the Pomona dumpsite at a cost of €304 000 000 (about US$320 million). The deal was signed with Netherlands-registered Geogenix BV, a company which has no prior experience in a similar project and has questionable financial capacity.
Geogenix BV is owned by Albanian Mirel Mertiri, who is under investigation in his own country for million-dollar corruption involving an incinerator project. Mertiri’s Zimbabwean partner is <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Dylish_Nguwaya">Dylesh Nguwaya</a>, a controversial businessman with links to Mnangagwa’s twin sons Sean and Collins.
Local authorities argue that the concept of devolution adopted in a 2013 constitution was to allow them to plan their budgets at the local level, considering their most pressing projects. 
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Ultimate Beneficiary Of Firetrucks Deal Is President Mnangagwa’s Associate, Alyaksandr Zingman - Report

New details have emerged in the arrest of President Mnangagwa (ED)’s honorary consul to Belarus Alexander Zingman in DRC last week, reports coming from Zingerman himself said he was arrested for plotting a coup against the DRC leader Felix Tshisekedi, Newsday reports.
This was revealed by Zingman who reportedly stated that the DRC government was made to believe he is an arms dealer planning to conduct a coup. Said Zingman:
<blockquote>The Press in DRC was awash with information that we were arms dealers and that we were in that country to train the armed forces to conduct a coup. This detail is showing that everything had been prepared and our arrest and detention was because we were victims of false information provided to DRC security forces</blockquote>
Zingman denied plotting to topple the DRC government and said:
<blockquote>We did not go to DRC to conduct any military deals or training. But we were there at the invitation of Moisi Kapende, who has a foundation called Moisi Kapende Agricultural Foundation, a big agricultural venture in Lubumbashi</blockquote>
He also denied being an arms dealer and said he is not a criminal:
<blockquote>We are not arms dealers or criminals. Our hope is to know who supplied that false information to the DRC security forces. It is good that our business profile was cleared by the DRC security agencies</blockquote>
He also explained his decision to swiftly fly to Harare after his release from prison in DRC yesterday and said:
<blockquote>Our itinerary was that we were coming to Harare the next day at 7am, where we had other business meetings. That is why we came here because it was part of the plans that we had.</blockquote>
He however denied disclosing the nature of the business he was going to conduct in Harare when he was asked about that.
Zingman spent <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/arrest-of-eds-belarusian-friend-could-open-pandoras-box/">12 days in a Congolese jail after his arrest</a> on speculation that Tshisekedi was getting rid of former President Joseph Kabila’s allies after their fall out.
More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2021/04/ed-ally-in-coup-plot-storm/">Newday</a>

ED's Belarusian Ally Zingman Was Arrested For Plotting A Coup In DRC

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Zimbabwe’s honorary consul to Belarus Alexander Zingman has been released from prison in the <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/arrest-of-eds-belarusian-friend-could-open-pandoras-box/">Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after two weeks in custody.</a>
Zingman who is allegedly an arms dealer was arrested immediately after meeting Joseph Kabila, DRC’s former president whose relations with the incumbent president are reportedly tense.
Alexander Zingman was reportedly was at the centre of Zimbabwe’s US$58 million agricultural equipment deal with Belarus in 2019 and a comprehensive US$350 million trade arrangement between the two countries.
Meanwhile, President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesperson, George Charamba has defended the US passport holder saying there was nothing controversial about Zingman except for those manufactured by the media.
Responding to a NewsHawks tweet that said “President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s controversial business associate and Zimbabwe’s honorary consul to Belarus Alexander Zingman has been released in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC),” Charamba said:
<blockquote>
You guys invent controversies!!! There is nothing controversial about Mister Alexander Zingman. What was controversial was his arrest and detention in DRC, an action which the DRC President has since regretted. Incidentally, I hope you know Mister Zingman is also a holder of US passport, which is why Russia, Belarus, America and Zimbabwe sought to understand DRC actions.
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Others said while Zingman’s friends have previously been arrested for corruption, he himself was yet to be arrested.
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Zimbabwe's Honorary Consul To Belarus, Zingman Released From Jail In DRC

The arrest of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s shadowy Belarusian business associate Alexander Zingman in Lubumbashi, DRC on 17 March 2021 threatens to open a can of worms, security sources have told The NewsHawks.
Zingman was arrested at an airport in Lubumbashi after meeting former Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) leader Joseph Kabila.
In January 2019 Zingman, who holds dual American and Belarusian citizenship, was announced Zimbabwe’s honorary consul in Belarus.
His whereabouts remain unknown since his arrest. He was seized together with his colleague Oleg Vodchits and their Italian business associate Paolo Persico.
An executive at Zingman’s company AFTRADE told The NewsHawks that his arrest and detention in DRC is unlawful. A company spokesman is quoted as saying:
<blockquote>We are deeply concerned about Alexander Zingman being unlawfully detained in the DRC. He was in the country on a legitimate business trip for generating agricultural trade with our partners in Africa.
We call (upon) DRC authorities to release Mr Zingman, his colleague Oleg Vodchits, and their Italian associate Paolo Persico immediately.
To detain Western businessmen on a business visit is not helpful for our efforts to promote trade with Africa.</blockquote>
Zingman was at the centre of Zimbabwe’s US$58 million agricultural equipment deal with Belarus in 2019 and a comprehensive US$350 million trade arrangement between the two countries.
President Mnangagwa is close to Zingman, and he has been to Zimbabwe several times to meet Mnangagwa and his officials.
Mnangagwa has on several occasions been publicly photographed with Zingman, one time at his Harare home with his son Emmerson Junior.
Mnangagwa and Zingman reportedly are caught up in the messy DRC conflict between President Felix Tshisekedi and Kabila.
A governing coalition fostered by the two after the 2018 elections collapsed recently, with Tshisekedi seizing control of parliament and purging Kabila’s allies.
Zingman’s arrest raises the stakes and complicates Kabila’s relations with Mnangagwa.
<h4>More: <a href="https://thenewshawks.com/arrest-of-mnangagwas-mysterious-business-crony-opens-can-of-worms/?fbclid=IwAR26pn0mSIfLUYSkOgryLOw3UN9-AflGI6TWby0x4aHfsyzS6Pa2kYG2-l8">The NewsHawks</a></h4>

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