President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesperson George Charamba has hit back at online criticism and derision after a tractor imported from Belarus failed to start at Mushagashe Youth Vocational Training Centre during the Robert Mugabe National Youth Day commemorations on Wednesday.
Mnangagwa, who donated the tractor to Mushagashe Youth Vocational Training Centre, was behind the wheel when the vehicle failed to start, much to the embarrassment of his aides.
Charamba, who is the Deputy Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet (Presidential Communications), hit out at people who mocked the Belarusian-made tractors, which some critics say are second-hand. He posted on X:
<blockquote>
Zimbabwe bought over 3 000 tractors of varying power from the sister Republic of Belarus. Apart from units which were given to communities and interest groups, the rest are being sold to farmers on a commercial basis by a company called BISON.
Farmers secure credit lines from banks, principally CBZ and AFC. They pay over three years. The deal is purely commercial, which means a good number of units are still available – have been – since the shipment of the units some two or so years ago.
The launch was done publicly, with the media participating. Equally, the tractors are being kept at the Hatcliffe workshop yard of the Ministry of Agriculture.
You easily see them as you drive in whichever direction. Until a unit is bought, it is kept in this yard, meaning consumables, including batteries, expectedly need attention ahead of collection.
This is basic to any buying farmer or, more easily, to anyone who has purchased a vehicle from any garage.
It is thus amateurish to suggest that a tractor whose ignition fails to kick in amounts to a mechanical failure or sub-standard purchase.
I am a proud owner of a 130hp Belarusian tractor which I secured at the beginning of the season.
</blockquote>
Critics say Zimbabwe has become a dumping ground for substandard products not only from Belarus but also from the East European country’s close ally and neighbour, Russia.
In 2022 Zimbabwe’s honorary consul and Mnangagwa’s close associate Alexander Zingman reportedly got a US$62 million deal to supply fire tenders to local authorities.
Zimbabwe bought eighteen (18) medical emergency helicopters from Russia about nine months ago but the planes are still grounded.
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Charamba Responds To Online Criticism After Belarusian Tractor "Embarrasses" Mnangagwa

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.
</blockquote>
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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Zimbabwe Has Received 2,000 High-Tech Tractors And Harvesters From Belarus To Boost Agriculture

Thousands of Belgian farmers from the northern region of Flanders parked tractors in the CBD of the capital, Brussels, on Friday in a protest against a new regional government plan to limit nitrogen emissions.
Many tractors, about 2 700, were decorated with big signs reflecting the farmers’ anger, according to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/tractors-descend-brussels-farmer-protest-over-plans-limit-nitrogen-emissions-2023-03-03/#:~:text=BRUSSELS%20March%203%20(Reuters)%20%2D,streets%20of%20Brussels%20at%202%2C700.">Reuters</a>.
Agricultural organisations said in a joint statement that the nitrogen agreement as it now stands “will cause a socio-economic carnage“. They wanted the agreement to better reflect future prospects for the farming sector. Watch the video below:
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<video controls="controls" height="360" preload="metadata" width="640"><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploadsVcs7W0f5FCr7H.mp4">https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/91Vcs7W0f5FCr7H.mp4</a></video></div>
Livestock and heavy use of fertilizers, as well as traffic and construction, have led to levels of nitrogen oxides in the air and water in both Belgium and the Netherlands that are higher than EU regulations and that threaten the environment.
The planned move to limit emissions in Flanders has caused a crisis within the Flemish regional government.
In the Netherlands, farmers have refused to cooperate with the government on measures to limit nitrogen emissions, which would significantly reduce livestock in the country.
 It is expected to impact between 5 000 – 15 000 jobs. 
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

Thousands Of Belgian Farmers Park Tractors In CBD Over Proposed Law

Belarus’ Minsk Tractor Plant (MTZ) said that it will supply more than 3 500 tractors to Zimbabwe in 2023-2024.
This was said by MTZ Director General Vitaly Vovk after the company signed a memorandum of a strategic partnership with its official dealer in Zimbabwe – AFTRADE DMCC to promote BELARUS machines on the Zimbabwean market.
According to the document, in 2023-2024 MTZ is set to supply 3 575 tractors to Zimbabwe.
The document was signed at the Belarus-Zimbabwe business forum in Harare held ahead of the state visit of Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko to Zimbabwe. Said Vovk:
<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 the strategic partnership that envisages work on a systematic perspective basis.
</blockquote>
In 2018-2022, MTZ delivered more than 1 800 vehicles to Zimbabwe. Said Vovk:
<blockquote>
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.
</blockquote>
He said the company has a multi-purpose service center in Harare with branches in Mutare and Bulawayo, and also a warehouse for component parts to maintain the delivered machinery.
MTZ together with AFTRADE DMCC is expected to train Zimbabweans on how to operate tractors from Belarus. | <a href="https://eng.belta.by/economics/view/belarus-mtz-to-ship-over-3500-tractors-to-zimbabwe-in-2023-2024-156322-2023/">Belta</a>

Belarusian Company Says It Will Ship 3 500 Tractors To Zimbabwe In 2023-2024

The Government says it is set to seal a US$170 million deal to buy close to 4 000 high-tech tractors and combine harvesters from Belarus.
The chief director for Agricultural Engineering, Mechanisation and Soil Conservation in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Engineer Edwin Zimunga, told <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/govt-strikes-us170m-farm-mechanisation-deal">The Sunday Mail </a>that the combine harvesters will be procured at concessional rates under the third phase of the Belarus Farm Mechanisation Facility.
Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister, Piotr Parkhomchik, was in Zimbabwe recently to finalise the deal, which was secured by President Mnangagwa during his State visit to Minsk in 2018.
Zimbabwe has procured 1 337 tractors and combine harvesters through the facility. The bulk of the farming implements has since been delivered. Said Zimunga:
<blockquote>
We are working round the clock to make sure that we modernise and mechanise our agriculture for improved production with less human labour.
The current deal, which we are working on, will see us receive at least 3 750 tractors and 60 more combine harvesters from our Belarusian friends.
With the coming on board of this US$169,9 million deal and other facilities, we want to push our tractor fleet to about 15 000 by the year 2025. This is a concessional deal in which governments capacitate each other.
In this case, with the experience Belarus has, they are sharing that knowledge with us so that we improve our agriculture sector.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is scheduled to be in Zimbabwe in December on an official visit.

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