By Gondai Kamumango
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Retired Lieutenant General Sibusiso Moyo said that the government's re-engagement policy was bearing fruit, pointing that diasporas are the key ambassadors in the advancement of the policy.
Minister Moyo said this while giving oral evidence to the Parliament Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade today at the Parliament building.
"Everyone has a part to play in driving the country's foreign policy regardless of one’s political affiliation.
"Diasporas are key ambassadors by virtue of their proximity with the host country, hence we cannot ignore their contributions," he said.
Minister Moyo revealed that his Ministry in conjunction with the Ministry of Home Affairs, is working on what he termed 'Ease of being Zimbabwean' in which the two ministries are working on modalities to make sure the process of acquiring of documentation for diasporians which include passport, birth certificates, national identification documents are done at the country's embassies.
Minister Moyo also highlighted that government was in the process of making ambassadors more efficient in pursuit of the country's foreign policy by training prospective ambassadors on the correct conduct.
He added that ambassadors would now be ranked based on the gravity of economic activity the country is expecting from the host nation.
"Government is in the process of rationalising embassies, closing some stations where there is less activities and beefing up where there is more activities and potential of economic relations.
"Ranking of ambassadors would also help the country save on salaries and allowances," he added.
On the progress of the re-engagement policy, Minister Moyo revealed that great strides have been made which have seen him meeting with top officials from Belgium, Britain and the United States with plans at an advancement stage to move the interactions to the Presidency level.
Minister Moyo also revealed that through the policy, the European Union (EU) has relaxed some of its restrictions to Zimbabwe, leading to Zimbabwe benefiting from EU financial aid.
The Minister concluded that the country's Foreign Policy thrust as spearheaded by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, is on economic diplomacy which is inline with efforts to make Zimbabwe a middle class economy by 2030.
