By Christopher Makaza
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade continues to promote bilateral ties through exchange of visits, holding consultations and joint Commissions, and to further unlock economic opportunities that exist within the African Continent and abroad, Minister Sibusiso Moyo has said.
Addressing Ambassadors-Designates who are undergoing a Diplomatic Training Course in Msasa, Harare today before their final deployment to various countries, Minister Moyo said the re-engagement efforts were a key component of the Ministry`s mandate.
“The main objective of the re-engagement process is to normalise all aspects of the country`s relations with the West. These include ending Zimbabwe`s estrangement from the Western world and re-opening lines of communication at the political level, to achieve the removal of sanctions and all other punitive measures imposed on Zimbabwe in order to unleash the country`s full economic potential.
“The President and I have spearheaded the re-engagement efforts with the West and, notwithstanding the perceptions emanating from set-back caused by the events of 1 August 2018 and those of 14 and 15 January, 2019, the response has thus far been generally positive and encouraging,” he said.
Minister Moyo urged the Ambassadors to actively pursue the re-engagement agenda and to create mechanisms for renewed and intensified dialogue with these countries so as to facilitate the broad re-engagement process.
Minister Moyo took the opportunities to congratulate the Ambassadors-Designate, highlighting that the assignment they have been given is an exceptionally rare and high honour.
“Let me extend to you my sincere congratulations on being designated to serve your country as Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, and to say that I look forward to working closely with you as together we strive to achieve vision 2030.
“Be in no doubt, the assignment you have been given is an exceptionally high and rare honour. Less than 400 individuals have served as Ambassadors of Zimbabwe at our Missions abroad since Independence in 1980, around 0.003% of our total population,” he said.
Minister Moyo said the letters of Credence the Ambassadors will present to their host Heads of State were a very personal attestation of Faith, confidence and trust vested in them by His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa and that they will become his eyes and ears and his voice in their countries of accreditation.
