Staff Reporter
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has called on Zimbabwean diplomats to champion the country’s investment potential by promoting its abundant natural resources and economic opportunities abroad.
Addressing Zimbabwe’s ambassadors at State House in Harare, yesterday, he emphasized the critical role the envoy play in positioning Zimbabwe as a preferred investment destination.
“It is my pleasure to host this gathering with all of you, the men and women assigned to serve and represent our beloved motherland, Zimbabwe, in foreign lands. This strategic gathering is essential for driving forward the government’s vision of becoming a prosperous and empowered upper-middle-income economy by 2030,” he remarked.
President Mnangagwa urged the ambassadors to remain focused and results-driven in all their engagements and initiatives.
“I hope for future gatherings to recognize the most impactful missions, underscoring that diplomatic efforts must be measurable and accountable. I look forward to a time when this gathering will include highlights and recognition of the best performing missions, based on clearly stipulated criteria and outcomes,” he added.
The President emphasized the need for a dynamic and forward-thinking approach in foreign relations.
“In a rapidly changing world, we must rethink and reimagine how we engage internationally to ensure that Zimbabwe benefits fully. The importance of adopting an agile and adaptive mindset, one that is innovative in its pursuit of strategic partnerships and investment opportunities. Zimbabweans are resilient and action-oriented, not a people who merely complain. I expect these traits to be evident in the results from your respective missions,” he stressed.
During the recent Diplomatic Retreat and Strategic Management Review Workshop, diplomats were briefed on significant progress across key sectors of the economy, including agriculture, mining, ICT, and innovation.
The President urged them to leverage this information in their engagements, highlighting Zimbabwe’s strengths in these areas to attract investors.
“We are encouraging production and productivity, underpinned by ICT, innovation, and modern technologies. I trust that you are fully informed of the strides made in our economy and can communicate this effectively. I encourage you diplomats to cultivate international partnerships that would bolster Zimbabwe’s education sector, healthcare, and other critical social services, emphasizing that economic growth must go hand in hand with social development,” he stated.
Furthermore, President Mnangagwa called on the diplomats to actively seek out partnerships that would support Zimbabwe’s drive for value addition, particularly in agriculture and natural resources.
“It is incumbent upon you to develop and nurture complementary synergies with a cross-section of investors in your various stations for enhanced win-win benefits. Let us advocate for partnerships that would add value to Zimbabwe’s rich resources rather than exporting raw materials,” he said.
As Zimbabwe advances toward its Vision 2030 goals, the President’s address reinforced the need for ambassadors to become proactive ambassadors for change. He called for a concerted effort to demonstrate Zimbabwe’s transformation, resilience, and economic potential, ensuring that the nation’s story is one of progress and opportunity on the global stage.
