Harare, (New Ziana) – A 200-page strategy proposing closer Russia–Zimbabwe cooperation in currency reform, digital public services, lithium processing and energy is set to be presented in Moscow at the third Russia–Africa Summit on October 28–29, 2026, an official has said.
Co-authored by Julia Berg, founder of the GlobUs Expert Club and head of the International Business Acceleration Center, the Social and Economic Cooperation Strategy seeks to provide a framework for long-term economic and diplomatic cooperation between the two countries.
The document draws on 15 years of research across Africa, more than 1 000 in-depth interviews and an analysis of key continental policy frameworks, including the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
Berg said sovereignty was central to the strategy, arguing that sustainable partnerships depended on countries retaining the ability to make independent political and economic decisions.
“It is impossible to talk about the development of relations without sovereignty – that is, the ability to make political and economic decisions on your own,” she said.
Unlike the roadmap adopted at the second Russia–Africa Summit, the new strategy links different sectors, recognizing that industrial growth depends on reliable energy supplies, skilled labour and coordinated economic planning.
Zimbabwe’s currency reforms feature prominently in the document, with the authors highlighting the introduction of the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) in April 2024 as an important attempt to strengthen monetary stability through backing by gold and foreign currency reserves.
Berg said the initiative could offer lessons for alternative approaches to international trade and economic relations, although Zimbabwe remained dependent on the United States dollar.
“Zimbabwe has become the first country in modern history to launch a currency backed by two forms of collateral, foreign exchange and natural resources,” she said, describing the move as a significant step towards monetary innovation.
The strategy also identifies opportunities for Russian technical assistance in digitizing Zimbabwe’s social welfare system.
It points to the Zimbabwe Social Registry (ZISO), which has been rolled out in phases since 2026 with World Bank support, as a potential foundation for consolidating beneficiary data and improving service delivery.
“Efficiency in welfare is only possible when there are reliable data points and a well-organized information exchange,” Berg said, adding that Russia could assist with digital identification, online benefit applications and statistical systems.
In the mining sector, the document proposes cooperation in lithium processing, including technical support for production processes, laboratory testing and product quality control at the Arcadia lithium project.
However, it warns that industrial expansion will depend on addressing Zimbabwe’s energy constraints, including electricity generation challenges linked to fluctuating water levels at Lake Kariba and the need to modernize the national grid.
Berg said the strategy was not a ready-made package of solutions but a framework for identifying practical areas of cooperation, with progress to be measured through indicators such as trade growth and the number of successful joint projects.
The strategy will be presented in full in Moscow on October 28–29, ahead of discussions on the future of Russia–Africa relations.
New Ziana
