This article covers the political relationship between India and Zimbabwe: the historical background, visits by heads of state and government, ministerial and parliamentary exchanges, and the dialogue mechanisms between the two governments. It is based on the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) bilateral brief on India and Zimbabwe dated April 2026.

Background

According to the MEA brief of April 2026, India and Zimbabwe have a long history of close and cordial relations, and India supported Zimbabwe's freedom struggle. Former Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi attended the Zimbabwean independence celebrations in 1980.

The brief records frequent exchanges of high level visits until 1996, both bilateral and to attend Summits such as NAM, CHOGM and G-15.

Visits by Indian leaders

Former Prime Ministers Shri Rajiv Gandhi, Shri Narasimha Rao and Shri H.D. Deve Gowda visited Zimbabwe to attend, respectively, the NAM Summit in 1986, CHOGM in 1991 and the G-15 Summit. Former Presidents Shri R. Venkataraman and Dr. S.D. Sharma paid official visits to Zimbabwe in 1989 and 1996 respectively. Former Prime Minister Shri Vajpayee and President Mugabe met twice in 2003, on the sidelines of UNGA and the NAM Summit.

The Vice President of India, Shri Venkaiah Naidu, visited Zimbabwe in November 2018. The assistance announced during that visit is described in the development partnership article of this guide.

Visits by Zimbabwean leaders

Former President of Zimbabwe Robert Gabriel Mugabe visited India several times. The brief lists his visits as follows:

  • 1981
  • 1983, for the CHOGM and NAM Summits
  • 1987, for the Africa Fund Summit
  • 1991, to receive the Nehru Award
  • 1993
  • 1994, for the G-15 Summit
  • 2015, to attend IAFS-III

Vice President Gen (Retd) C.G.D.N. Chiwenga visited India in March 2018 as a Special Envoy of President E.D. Mnangagwa. His later visits, for India-Africa business conclaves, are covered in the trade and investment article.

Recent ministerial visits from India

Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs Mr Muraleedharan visited Zimbabwe from 6-8 June 2022. Minister of State for External Affairs Mr. Kirti Vardhan Singh visited Zimbabwe from 26-28 June 2025.

Minister of Environment, Forests & Climate Change Mr. Bhupender Yadav led the Indian delegation to COP15 of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands at Victoria Falls in July 2025.

Parliamentary exchanges

A Parliamentary delegation led by the Speaker of the Parliament of Zimbabwe, Advocate Jacob F. N. Mudenda, visited India from 7-11 December 2022. Members of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education of Zimbabwe visited India on a study visit in June 2025.

Ministerial visits from Zimbabwe

The brief states that ministerial visits from Zimbabwe to India have taken place on a regular basis. The visits and other ministerial participation in Indian-hosted events that it records include:

  • Mr. M. Madiro, Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development, in August 2022
  • Ms. Monica Mutsvangwa, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, who led a delegation in November 2022
  • Ms. Sekai Nzenza, Minister of Industry & Commerce, who took part in the Commerce, Trade and Industry Ministers' Session of the Voice of Global South Summit, held virtually on 13 January 2023
  • Mrs. Oppah C.Z. Muchinguri, Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs, who led delegations to Aero India 2023 and Aero India-2025
  • Tatenda Mavetera, Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, for the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) World Telecommunications Standardisation Assembly 2024 (WTSA 24), from 14-24 October 2024
  • Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Mushayavanhu, who led a delegation to the High-Level Policy Conference of Central Banks for 2024, organised by the Reserve Bank of India in Mumbai from 20-22 November 2024
  • Dingumuzi Phuti, Deputy Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, for the AI Impact Summit in February 2026

Visits linked to trade, energy and education are described in the other articles of this guide.

Meetings in third countries

On the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2026 in Davos, a Zimbabwean delegation led by Prof. Dr. Amon Murwira, Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Trade, met the Minister of New and Renewable Energy, Mr. Pralhad Joshi. Prof. Dr. Murwira also met the Chief Minister of Maharashtra briefly.

Foreign Office Consultations

The first Foreign Office Consultations between India and Zimbabwe were held on 20 March 2017 in Harare. The second were held in New Delhi on September 29, 2022, and the third in Harare on August 6, 2024.

Joint Commission

India and Zimbabwe signed a Joint Commission Agreement in January 1987. According to the brief, four meetings of the Joint Commission have been held so far:

  • first, in New Delhi in April 1987
  • second, in Harare in February 1989
  • third, in New Delhi in October 1990
  • fourth, in Harare in January 1996

Trade talks at official level, including the Joint Trade Committee, are covered in the trade and investment article.