Trump Policies & BRICS: Is Another Africa Nation Joining?

Zimbabwe is actively pursuing membership in the BRICS economic bloc, aiming to deepen its integration into the global economy and unlock benefits such as preferential trade agreements and increased foreign investment.

Zimbabwe and BRICS shared ambition

The nation’s mission to join the coalition is driven by its objective to solidify a deeper integration into the global economy. By securing a membership in the group, which already houses a substantial number of African countries, Zimbabwe aims to unlock a host of benefits, including preferential trade agreements, increased foreign direct investment (FDI) attracted by a more stable and regulated environment, and greater access to advanced technological expertise.

“Zimbabwe is ready to integrate more deeply into the global community, and joining blocs such as BRICS is very important for us in expanding our economic involvement and integrating Zimbabwe into the global economy,” the minister revealed during an interview. “We have formally approached all BRICS member states, and we are looking forward to participating in BRICS in the categories that are allowable within the framework of the bloc,” he added.

The initiative is being spearheaded by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, according to reports from Herald Online. “We have written formally, and we are awaiting feedback from our colleagues. I was directed by His Excellency, the President, to engage my counterparts in foreign affairs, and we have done so and continue to do so,” Professor Murwira revealed.

Some experts believe Zimbabwe’s intensified efforts to join BRICS are a consequence of strained relationships with Western nations following stringent visa and trade policies enacted by the United States. In contrast, Russia, a premier member of the BRICS group, recently touted plans to expand visa-free travel to Zimbabwe as well as three other African countries, including Zambia, Mozambique, and Eswatini.

Currently, Russia, India, China, and South Africa constitute the core and founding members of the BRICS bloc. Other members include Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Nigeria, and Vietnam serve as BRICS partners.

Zimbabwe, which has struggled with its currency for years, shares a similar goal with BRICS – the ability to trade without reliance on the U.S. dollar. In November of last year, Zimbabwe revealed plans to establish a robust foreign-exchange buffer, enabling the transition to a single national currency and the eventual phase-out of the widespread use of US dollars within the next three years.

The country has spent more than a decade seeking to create a functional national currency after repeated failures caused hyperinflation, wiping out savings and forcing Zimbabwe to accept the US dollar in 2009. Its most recent effort, the ZiG, launched in April 2024, currently accounts for nearly 40% of daily transactions.

At the end of 2025, reports showed that gold’s rally, combined with a steady increase in foreign-exchange reserves, allowed the ZiG to recoup majority of its losses against the US dollar during the year. Since its launch in April 2024, the ZiG has only declined by 0.7% versus the dollar in 2025, in stark contrast to the dramatic swings that have historically marked Zimbabwe’s currency market. The unit is backed by 2.5 tons of gold and $100 million in foreign currency reserves held by the central bank, which gives it tangible value.