Zimbabwe targets regional veterinary vaccine hub through US$50M Belarus partnership

ZIMBABWE – Zimbabwe is seeking to position itself as Southern Africa’s leading veterinary vaccine and pharmaceutical manufacturing hub through a proposed US$50 million partnership with Belarusian veterinary biologics manufacturer BelAgroGen, aimed at strengthening livestock disease control, local manufacturing and regional exports.

The draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), tabled on Saturday and currently under government approval, marks a significant step toward implementing the bilateral cooperation framework agreed at the presidential level between Zimbabwe and Belarus in 2025.

The proposed partnership brings together BelAgroGen and Zimbabwe’s Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) to establish a modern veterinary pharmaceutical manufacturing industry that serves both domestic and regional markets.

According to the proposed agreement, the investment will be implemented in three phases over the next three years.

The first phase will focus on supplying BelAgroGen’s registered veterinary vaccines and pharmaceuticals to Zimbabwe. 

This will be followed by the establishment of local processing and repackaging facilities before the construction of a jointly owned veterinary vaccine and pharmaceutical manufacturing plant.

Once operational, the facility is expected to reduce Zimbabwe’s dependence on imported veterinary medicines and improve the availability of vaccines to control transboundary animal diseases that continue to threaten livestock production across Southern Africa.

The project is also expected to strengthen Zimbabwe’s ability to respond more rapidly to disease outbreaks while creating opportunities to export veterinary vaccines and pharmaceuticals to countries within the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Speaking after presenting the draft agreement, BelAgroGen Vice President Andrei Molchan said the project was designed to create a regional solution to livestock health challenges.

“This is about Zimbabwe taking the lead in protecting the region’s livestock. We are talking about building something that serves all of Southern Africa, and building it here,” he said.

Technology transfer and local manufacturing drive long-term growth

Beyond manufacturing, the partnership places strong emphasis on technology transfer and human capacity development.

Zimbabwean students will receive scholarships to study in Belarus, while veterinarians, laboratory personnel and researchers will undergo specialised training in biotechnology, vaccine development and veterinary medicine.

The two countries also intend to collaborate on scientific research to develop local expertise that can support and expand Zimbabwe’s veterinary pharmaceutical industry over the long term.

The proposed investment is expected to improve livestock health, boost productivity and strengthen food security by increasing access to quality veterinary products.

The initiative also aligns with Zimbabwe’s broader industrialisation agenda by promoting local manufacturing in a strategic agricultural sector.

If approved and implemented, the partnership could position Zimbabwe as a regional centre for veterinary vaccine production and animal health innovation, supporting livestock industries across Southern Africa while expanding the country’s role in the regional veterinary pharmaceuticals market.

Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news updates and insights from Africa and the World, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.