Zimbabwe gets presidential chopper gift from Putin

Vladimir Putin gifted the president of Zimbabwe a helicopter, Harare said on Thursday, as the Russian leader courts the backing of African leaders in Saint Petersburg.

Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa is among those attending a two-day Russia-Africa summit that is being scrutinised as a test of Putin's support in the continent after his invasion of Ukraine.

"His Excellency President Putin has given His Excellency President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa a Presidential Helicopter," Zimbabwe's information ministry wrote on social media. 

It posted photos of Mnangagwa walking down the blue aircraft's steps and sitting inside the cabin before a table with glasses of white wine and a bowl of fruit.

"This bird will soon be gracing our skies," government spokesman Nick Mangwana added on Twitter, which is being rebranded as X. 

Strengthen diplomatic and security ties with Africa

Largely isolated on the global stage since the start of the Ukraine offensive, Russia has sought to strengthen diplomatic and security ties with Africa.

Zimbabwe is also an international outlier, its leadership the target of US and European sanctions over graft and rights abuses.

Mnangagwa, 80, who is seeking re-election in what analysts predict will be a tense ballot next month, has long blamed his country's dire economic straits on the punitive measures.

"The victims of sanctions must cooperate," Mnangagwa said standing in front of the helicopter in a video published by the information ministry. Moscow has also been targeted by western powers.

On Thursday Putin listed Zimbabwe among six poor African countries that will receive free grain from Russia, after the Kremlin withdrew from a deal allowing for Ukrainian grain exports to reach global markets through the Black Sea.