Cape Town – Russia's foreign minister Sergey Lavrov has reportedly hailed Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe as an "African legend and historic figure".
According to The Herald, Lavrov said this at Mugabe's rural Zvimba home during the launch of a $3bn platinum mining project, a joint venture between Russia and Zimbabwe.
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Lavrov also reaffirmed Russia's support for the recognition of the African voice in world politics.
"The future of the world could only be multi-polar, otherwise the world system would not be sustainable," Lavrov was quoted as saying.
'Evil men of our world'
Lavrov said Africa was one of the pillars of the evolving world system, adding, "Russia would always be with Africa".
Speaking at the same occasion, Mugabe took a swipe at the European Union for imposing sanctions on Zimbabwe and Russia, saying this was in contravention of standing United Nations resolutions, a News Day report said.
Mugabe described the West as "evil men of our world".
The West imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe in 2002 over concerns about electoral fraud and human rights abuses
Russia, on the other hand, has also been targeted with sanctions by western countries over its alleged involvement in strife-torn neighbouring Ukraine.
NewZimbabwe.com quoted Mugabe as saying to Lavrov : "Take back to President [Vladimir] Putin that we feel with him that those imposing sanctions on him have done so on us …"
Lavrov tweeted whilst in Zimbabwe:
I'm in Zimbabwe, and have just met with @Plaid_Mugabe. We've made an agreement. Soon @Plaid_Russia and Zimbabwe will share a platinum mine.
— Plaid Sergey Lavrov (@Plaid_Lavrov) September 16, 2014