One of the main reasons for the interest of developing countries in joining the BRICS group lies in the policies it pursues with mutual respect among members, as well as openness and transparency in trade, said Monica Mutsvangwa, minister of information, publicity and broadcasting of Zimbabwe, in an exclusive interview with Sputnik Africa.
"This obviously has been necessitated by its [BRICS] leading transparency and favorable trade conditions," she said, adding: "It doesn't impose restrictions on countries which they trade with, hence the ideology is promising to Africa's emerging economies."
According to Mutsvangwa, BRICS as an economic bloc offers favorable trade conditions and other benefits to its members, without threatening sanctions or bans. This kind of policy is something African emerging economies are striving for, she stressed, noting that no country wants to trade with those who impose restrictions "willy-nilly."
"So clearly, collaboration among the countries that make up BRICS will really create a balanced global order," she explained.
Apart from that, BRICS offers support to African countries in such spheres as technology, pharmaceuticals and exploitation of natural resources. She mentioned that the Chinese company Tsingshan is currently building an iron and steel plant Manhize in Vuma, located 140 kilometers from the capital city of Harare.
The minister recalled that in 2008, China and Russia voted against a draft resolution of the UN Security Council that would have imposed sanctions against Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe, an arms embargo on the country and other measures. She stressed that if Russia and China "had not stood by Zimbabwe, it would have really been a disaster" for the Southern African nation.
Mutsvangwa also touched upon the topic of the long-standing cooperation between Russia and Zimbabwe. She noted that her country is grateful for Russia's support in its liberation struggle, in particular, for providing military training. According to Mutsvangwa, about 20% of the Zimbabwean military leadership was trained in Russia.
"As a war veteran myself, I fought for the liberation struggle of this country, and I know our relationship with Russia has come a very long way. And we know that we have continued to deepen our relationship," the minister said.
She added that the two nations are seeking to develop and deepen economic ties, especially given the fact that both are "under illegal sanctions." The minister suggested that Russia can cooperate with Zimbabwe in the production of downstream equipment, steel production of airplane engines and many other areas.
West's Attempts to 'Disempower' BRICS
Mutsvangwa recalled that in recent years, several African nations have been subjected to pressure from the West for their cooperation with Russia. She specifically referred to South Africa, recalling that the country has been threatened with sanctions "for aligning and trading with Russia."
Moreover, she went on, there have long been tensions between China and the US. According to Mutsvangwa, these "constant fights" are connected with the growing influence of China and the yuan gaining strength in the foreign exchange market.
"Having Russian banks cut off from SWIFT by the European Union was another move to try and disempower BRICS, as Russia would not be able to make payments to countries that it trades with. However, Russia managed to maneuver," the minister elaborated.
Speaking about the advantages of the BRICS group, she pointed to the large population it unites, the significant youth dividend and the benefits it brings, as well as the geographical location of the member states close to Africa, which offers greater opportunities for cooperation.