Belarus Proposes Trilateral Seaport Project with Zimbabwe and Mozambique

Lukashenko Unveils Ambitious Seaport Plan

Minsk, Belarus – Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has put forth a proposal for a trilateral project involving Zimbabwe and Mozambique to construct a seaport in Mozambique. The initiative was presented on February 19, 2026, during a meeting in Minsk with Mabel Memory Chinomona, the President of the Senate of Zimbabwe.

Strategic Access for Landlocked Belarus

As a landlocked country, Belarus seeks a strategic presence on the southeastern coast of the African continent to bolster its trade routes. President Lukashenko emphasized the urgent need for such a logistical foothold, which would facilitate the movement of goods from Belarus and its key partners, including Russia. This project aims to mitigate the challenges Belarus faces due to its geographical position and current restrictions on its access to sea through traditional routes.

Regional Hub Potential for Zimbabwe

The proposed project envisions the construction of a port in Mozambique, potentially complemented by the restoration of railway links connecting Mozambique to Zimbabwe. Lukashenko highlighted that if realized, this infrastructure would transform Zimbabwe into a crucial hub for vital goods. This would not only serve as a gateway for Belarusian products into Southern Africa but also for goods originating from other nations, particularly Russia. Zimbabwe has long expressed interest in securing direct access to the Indian Ocean, aiming to reduce its reliance on existing South African ports.

Deepening Bilateral Ties and Future Trade

The proposal underscores the rapidly expanding cooperation between Belarus and Zimbabwe, which has seen significant growth since 2019. This includes multi-billion-dollar agreements across sectors such as agriculture, mining, machinery supply, and education. A state visit by President Lukashenko to Harare in 2023 further solidified these relations. President Lukashenko conveyed the proposal to Senate President Chinomona, requesting her to relay it to Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa. The Belarusian leader expressed an ambitious goal to increase the trade turnover between Belarus and Zimbabwe to over $100 million within the next few years.