Russian President Vladimir Putin gifted his Zimbabwe counterpart, Emmerson Mnangagwa, a helicopter on Thursday.
Mnangagwa is among those attending a two-day Russia-Africa summit that is being scrutinized as a test of Putin’s support in the continent after his invasion of Ukraine.
“His Excellency President Putin has given His Excellency President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa a Presidential Helicopter,” Zimbabwe’s information said.
Zimbabwe's government Spokesman Nick Mangwana posted photos of Mnangagwa walking down the blue aircraft’s steps and sitting inside the cabin before a table with glasses of white wine and a bowl of fruit.
In this picture collage, you are looking at the Zim1 Helicopter gifted by President Putin to President @edmnangagwa. This bird will soon be gracing our skies. pic.twitter.com/W051dQWx17
— Nick Mangwana (@nickmangwana) July 27, 2023Did you read this?
Since the commencement of the offensive in Ukraine, Russia has largely been left out of international affairs. As a result, it has worked to improve its diplomatic and security ties with Africa.
Zimbabwe is another worldwide outlier, with sanctions imposed on its leadership due to corruption and human rights violations by the US and Europe.
Mnangagwa, 80, has long attributed his country's dismal economic circumstances to the punitive measures.
He is running for re-election in what observers expect could be a contentious election next month.
“The victims of sanctions must cooperate,” Mnangagwa said, standing before the helicopter.
Following the Kremlin's withdrawal from a pact allowing Ukrainian grain exports to access global markets through the Black Sea, Putin on Thursday named Zimbabwe as one of six underdeveloped African nations that will receive free grain from Russia.
