Serbia–Zimbabwe relations

Serbia–Zimbabwe relations are the bilateral relations between Serbia and Zimbabwe. Yugoslavia (and now Serbia as one of its successor states) was a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement, of which Zimbabwe is also a part. Neither country has a resident ambassador. Serbia has a non resident ambassador in Pretoria.

Serbia–Zimbabwe relations

Serbia	Zimbabwe

Relations during Yugoslavia era

Main article: Yugoslavia–Zimbabwe relations

The conference center built in 1985 for the 1986 Non-Aligned Movement Summit in Zimbabwe was built by Serbian company Energoprojekt holding, as was Mugabe's personal home. Robert Mugabe met Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito in Brijuni, Yugoslavia, and again in Havana, Cuba in 1979. When Tito died in 1980, Mugabe and a state delegation attended his funeral. Mugabe described Yugoslavia as the nation other non-aligned countries, especially African nations, went to for economic and technological needs.^[1]

Relations post Yugoslavia

In 2014, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe expressed his desire to rebuild and continue the friendship between Serbia and Zimbabwe, and described Serbia as the "only country in the world that [Zimbabwe] can consider a perfect friend," and that Serbia is Zimbabwe's only foreign ally.^{[citation needed]} Mugabe also invited Serbian minister Ivan Mrkić to Zimbabwe to begin talks on joint projects in the fields of infrastructure, agriculture, information technology and mining.^[2] Zimbabwe closed its embassy in Belgrade in 2006.^[3] Serbia closed its embassy in Harare in 2013.^{[citation needed]}

Economic relations

In 2019, the value of export from Serbia to Zimbabwe amounted to 280,000 euros, and import from Zimbabwe to 1,539,000 euros. In 2020, the value of export from Serbia to Zimbabwe amounted to 141,000 euros, and import from Zimbabwe to 1,965,000 euros.^[4]

High level visits

Former Prime Minister of Serbia and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ivica Dačić attended the state funeral of the former President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, on 14 September 2019.^[4]

The Speaker of the National Assembly of Zimbabwe, Jacob Mudenda, and the President of the Senate, Mabel Chinomona, participated in the 141st Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), which was held in Belgrade in October 2019.^[4]

In August 2021, Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikola Selakovic visited Zimbabwe and met with his Zimbabwean counterpart Dr Frederick Shava.^[5]

See also

• Foreign relations of Serbia
• Foreign relations of Zimbabwe
• Yugoslavia and the Non-Aligned Movement
• Yugoslavia and the Organisation of African Unity

References

1. Editorial Staff. "Interview With President Mugabe by Serbian Broadcasting." African Globe Net. African Globe, 04 Feb. 2014. Web. 12 May 2016.
2. BIRN. "Mugabe Seeks Serbian Deals for Zimbabwe." Balkan Insight. Balkan Insight, 12 Feb. 2014. Web. 12 May 2016. http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/mugabe-grasping-at-serbian-straws.
3. "Selaković: African countries support key interests of Serbia". Embassy of the Republic of Serbia, Pretoria - South Africa. 20 August 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
4. "Zimbabwe". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Serbia). Retrieved 2023-04-13.
5. Rumbidzayi Zinyuke (2021-08-21). "Zimbabwe: Zim, Serbia Agree to Re-Establish Diplomatic Ties". AllAfrica. Retrieved 2023-04-13.