ED joins global heavyweights in China

MOSES MATENGA/MOREBLESSING MARANGE

President Emmerson Mnangagwa joined global leaders in China for a massive military parade to mark 80 years after the country’s victory over Japan in World War 2 in what analysts say was a clear indication of where Zimbabwe stands in the global alliances and strategic positioning for mutual benefit.

Mnangagwa, one of the only two African leaders present, joined the host President Xi Jinping, Russia’s Vladmir Putin, North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, India Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

During the event, China unveiled laser weapons, nuclear ballistic missiles and giant underwater drones.

The parade seemed to have unsettled United States President, Donald Trump, who took to social media to speculate the meeting was a plot against the US.

Political analyst, Goodwine Mureriwa, said the presence of Mnangagwa at the grand event was also a statement of intent in joining BRICS, a forum for cooperation among a group of leading emerging economies.

The BRICS includes 10 countries – Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russian Federation, South Africa, United Arab Emirates.

“You realize that there are also the President of Russia, Vladmir Putin and also the Prime Minister of India, Modi so these are stalwarts in terms of global power dynamics and these are also part of the countries that are also in the BRICS and Zimbabwe is eager to follow suit to join the BRICS,” he said.

“It therefore for me is a good opportunity for Zimbabwe in particular to gain more access to relations that are based on mutual benefit and cordial relations with other countries,” he added.

BRICS objectives include strengthening economic, political, and social cooperation among its members, as well as increasing the influence of Global South countries in international governance.

Another analyst Elton Ziki said the presence of Mnangagwa at the event was a sign of solid diplomatic relations.

“This is a sign of diplomatic relations that are very cordial and warm as you are aware that China and Zimbabwe have termed and classified their relationship as all-weather friends,” he said.

“This is what is important and speaks to the friendship, the diplomatic relations, the partnership and institutional memory of their shared past in the fight against oppressive and repressive systems in favour of a more open society,” Ziki said.

Terrence Simbi, another political analyst said: “The world is realigning. Even in Africa you see the realignment where you have SADC divided into two alliances, those in favour of the west and those in favour of the east.”

“The West and East are competing for influence, and Africa is caught in the middle,” Simbi said.

“President Mnangagwa’s attendance at the parade demonstrates Zimbabwe’s commitment to diversifying its partnerships and strengthening its diplomatic ties with key players like China.”

Media reports from China say the meeting of the influential leaders in the Asian country “is the most enduring image from the choreographed spectacle.”

The meeting seems to have unsettled Trump who berated Xi saying: “Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un as you conspire against the United States of America.”

Xi Jinping said the world was facing a choice between peace or war as he held China’s largest-ever military parade.

“Today, humanity is again faced with the choice of peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, win-win or zero-sum,” Xi told the crowd of more than 50,000 spectators, adding that the Chinese people “firmly stand on the right side of history”.

Wen-Ti Sung, a non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Global China Hub said of the meeting : “Beijing is sending a message … that even if western countries continue to sanction Russia over the Russia-Ukraine war, Beijing will not be afraid to stand by its friend.”

Meanwhile, Mnangagwa reflected on Zimbabwe-China relations during the embassy visit in Beijing ahead of yesterday’s parade.

The President met with embassy staff and shared personal reflections on Zimbabwe’s enduring ties with China.

He recounted his own journey, recalling how, in 1965, he received training in Beijing—an experience he described as a cornerstone in his life and one that laid the foundation for the deep strategic partnerships that Zimbabwe and China continue to enjoy today.

Mnangagwa emphasized that relations between the two nations extend beyond diplomacy, encompassing genuine people-to-people connections built over decades of solidarity and cooperation. Zimbabwe, he noted, remains committed to further strengthening this cordial relationship across economic, cultural, and political spheres.