Zimbabwe’s Foreign Minister, Amon Murwira, announced on Thursday that the country has officially submitted a request to join BRICS, the alliance of some of the world’s most prominent emerging economies.

Murwira expressed Zimbabwe’s expectation of a consensus response from the bloc’s members, emphasizing that the country meets the necessary criteria for admission.

“Convinced that our country fulfills the requirements set by BRICS, we have submitted our membership request and are awaiting a response,” the Zimbabwean minister stated after a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov.

BRICS, initially formed by Brazil, Russia, India, and China in 2006, expanded in 2011 with the inclusion of South Africa. In January 2024, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, and Iran also joined the bloc.

During the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, 13 additional countries became associate members: Algeria, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Türkiye, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.

Murwira also addressed the Ukraine conflict, reiterating Zimbabwe’s support for a peaceful resolution. “Those who wish to contribute to the normalization of the situation cannot advocate for the continuation of combat operations. We are against any escalation,” he stated.

BRICS is known for fostering cooperation among nations with diverse political, economic, and cultural systems, adhering to principles of mutual respect and non-interference in members’ internal affairs. The bloc’s primary objective is to promote sustainable development and global peace, positioning itself as an alternative to traditional Western-dominated economic alliances.

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