Vadim Sinyavsky met with the Minister of Local Government and Public Works of the Republic of Zimbabwe
A meeting between Vadim Sinyavsky, Minister of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus, and Daniel Garve, Minister of Local Government and Public Works of the Republic of Zimbabwe, took place at the Ministry of Emergency Situations' Safety Education Center.
This visit was the second meeting between representatives of the two agencies, who met last November in Sanya, China, during a meeting of the Council of the Mechanism for Cooperation in Disaster Prevention and Emergency Management under the Belt and Road Initiative.
Opening the event, Vadim Sinyavsky noted that the high level of trust and support between Belarus and Zimbabwe, established at the state level, serves as a solid foundation for expanding cooperation in emergency prevention and response.
"We highly value the relationship of trust and support between Belarus and Zimbabwe, which has been established at the highest level, and are ready to develop close cooperation in emergency prevention and response," said the head of the Belarusian rescue agency.
The foundation for close cooperation was laid on May 14, 2025, in Minsk, when a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus and the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works of the Republic of Zimbabwe. This document defined the framework for cooperation in the management, prevention, and response to natural and man-made disasters. However, the history of substantive cooperation began long before that.
Belarus has repeatedly demonstrated its solidarity with Zimbabwe during difficult times:
In 2019, Zimbabwe received humanitarian aid in response to the devastating Cyclone Idai. The humanitarian aid included clothing, footwear, food, household items, and school supplies.
In September 2024, Zimbabwe received humanitarian aid due to the extreme drought. The shipment included diesel pumping units, medical supplies, food, blankets, children's clothing, footwear, and hygiene products. During the meeting, the Belarusian Minister of Emergency Situations briefed his counterpart on the agency's key activities, strategic objectives, and ongoing efforts to prevent and respond to emergencies, train the public, and coordinate actions in crisis situations.
Vadim Sinyavsky paid special attention to the role and functions of the Civil Defense University. The Minister noted that the Civil Defense University is rightfully considered not only a "training ground" for highly qualified specialists in emergency prevention and response, but also a powerful center for innovation. It is here, in close collaboration with leading Belarusian companies, that active work is underway to develop and implement modern protective clothing for firefighters and rescuers, ensuring maximum safety and comfort in the most extreme conditions, as well as cutting-edge emergency rescue tools and firefighting equipment, enabling Belarusian rescuers to effectively handle tasks of any complexity.
The University has extensive experience training foreign specialists: since 2003, more than 7,000 people from 80 countries have been trained here. Since 2019, 134 Zimbabwean representatives have completed training both at the Civil Defense University of the Ministry of Emergency Situations in Belarus and directly in Zimbabwe under the guidance of Belarusian instructors, a clear example of fruitful cooperation.
The meeting also discussed the supply of Belarusian fire trucks to Zimbabwe.
For reference: in 2023, over 100 fire trucks manufactured by Pozhsnab LLC were shipped to Zimbabwe, and in 2024, a 32-meter high fire ladder truck manufactured in Belarus was shipped.
The Belarusian minister proposed cooperation with Zimbabwe in three key areas: on-site training for specialists (water tanker drivers, firefighters) and highly qualified personnel at the Ministry of Emergency Situations' Civil Defense University to create a comprehensive public safety system; and the supply of domestically produced fire and rescue equipment, followed by servicing and provision of Zimbabwean rescuers with the necessary protective equipment adapted to African conditions.
In conclusion, Vadim Sinyavsky expressed his deep gratitude to his foreign colleagues for their commitment to cooperation with the Belarusian Ministry of Emergency Situations and assured them of their complete openness to collaboration.
"Today's dialogue not only deepens our understanding of common challenges but also lays the foundation for new joint projects aimed at ensuring the safety of our populations," he emphasized.
In turn, Daniel Garve thanked the Belarusian side for the warm welcome and expressed his deep appreciation for the established cooperation, emphasizing its high value for his country. He shared how the response system is structured in Zimbabwe and plans for the transfer The country's civil protection system was developed by 2030, emphasizing its interest in studying and subsequently implementing Belarusian experience in emergency prevention and response.
Particular attention was paid to training and personnel development. The Minister of Local Government and Public Works of Zimbabwe made no secret of his admiration for the system implemented at the Civil Defense University of the Belarusian Ministry of Emergency Situations. He expressed sincere gratitude for organizing courses for Zimbabwean specialists and for the willingness to send Belarusian instructors to Zimbabwe for on-site training. It was emphasized that Zimbabwe remains highly interested in continuing joint work in this area.
The Zimbabwean side expressed particular interest in the use of Belarusian firefighting and rescue equipment in the daily work of its rescuers and firefighters, seeing this as a key to improving their efficiency and safety.
Daniel Garve expressed confidence that the partnership will only grow stronger, contributing to the well-being and security of the peoples of both countries, and reaffirmed his commitment to further fruitful collaboration.
The distinguished guests then visited the Ministry of Emergency Situations' Life Safety Education Center. During the visit, the delegation learned about the center's activities, which implements modern approaches to training through interactive formats, game-based methods, and emergency simulations. The guests were shown innovative methods aimed at developing citizens' practical response skills and enhancing safety culture.
Furthermore, today the Zimbabwean representatives visited the Civil Defense University. They were introduced to the educational process, and were shown classrooms equipped with multimedia technology, state-of-the-art simulators, specialized classrooms, and practical training areas where they can recreate a variety of emergency situations.
The Zimbabwean delegation laid flowers at a monument dedicated to the Ministry of Emergency Situations personnel who died in the line of duty.
