eBusiness Weekly
HARARE – President Emmerson Mnangagwa said on Friday the country’s new diplomatic thrust was targeted at boosting economic growth through trade and investment.
Addressing the country’s 41 ambassadors who are back in the country for a week long re-orientation program after the takeover of the new government last November, President Mnangagwa said the diplomats were critical in spreading the message that Zimbabwe was ready for re-engagement and open for business.
“Your message to the world must be uniform, unequivocal and unwavering, that Zimbabwe is open for business,” he said.
“I wish you to carry the view that the current administration would want you to prioritize economic trade and investment.”
The government, in the meantime, was working on a host of reforms to make it easy and cheaper to invest and do business in the country by addressing issues such as corruption and streamlining investment procedures.
As a show of seriousness in line with the new thrust, Zimbabwean embassies must in turn also improve their efficiency and enquiry handling skills, he said.
“I thus urge you all to instill a sense of confidence to the prospective investors by improving on our responsiveness to enquiries and facilitating appropriate linkages,” he said.
“Capital must feel safe in Zimbabwe,” he added.
Besides investors, the embassies should also make concerted efforts to engage Zimbabweans in the Diaspora and encourage them to participate in the country’s development programmes.
President Mnangagwa warned the diplomats that failure to perform would not be tolerated, with non-performers risking being recalled back home.
“Work hard to achieve our goals which my administration has set in an effort to grow our economy, create jobs for our youth and women and to achieve self-sustaining development for our country,” he said.
The government was aware some of the missions faced financial challenges which were impacting on their work, he said.
Zimbabwe had the capacity to ensure its 41 missions across the world were funded to efficiently discharge their duties.
“Government is aware of your plight and is determined to create an environment in which you can effectively carry out your work and in which your personal needs are adequately catered for,” he said.
He said the government would soon be sending special envoys to various countries and organisations in line with the re-engagement thrust. – New Ziana
