Online Reporter
President Mnangagwa has challenged Zimbabwean Ambassadors and Heads of Missions to transform Zimbabwe’s diplomatic missions into strategic economic hubs that drive trade, investment, tourism and innovation.
Addressing the diplomats on Friday, President Mnangagwa said the country’s embassies must move beyond traditional diplomacy to play a proactive role in advancing national development.
“Missions should function as strategic economic hubs that advance trade, investment, tourism and innovation while defending our sovereignty and projecting a positive image of the country,” said President Mnangagwa.
He said the embassies must help position skilled Zimbabweans in key multilateral organisations, leveraging the country’s strong education system and work ethic.
President Mnangagwa said Zimbabweans are renowned for their education, hard work and professionalism.
“Riding on the high numbers of skilled young people, there is a need to harness the exportable potential of our human capital,” said President Mnangagwa.
He said Ambassadors should identify opportunities for Zimbabweans to secure influential positions in regional and global institutions.
President Mnangagwa noted that there was a steady rise in diaspora remittances and urged embassies to adopt open door policies for Zimbabweans living abroad. He said there was therefore a need to develop more concrete models to harness the diasporans’ combined potential as a source of investment capital.
Government has been urging Zimbabweans in the Diaspora to invest back home hence the steady rise in remittances since last year. On its part, the Second Republic has been working on clearing all the bottlenecks that in the past have been stifling flow of capital from locals based abroad.
Government has said the ease of doing business environment will be continuously improved not just for foreign investors but for diasporans wanting to invest back home as well.
President Mnangagwa has said Government is ready to harness the experience and expertise of Zimbabweans working in different countries across the globe in order to leapfrog the country’s modernisation and industrialisation.
Zimbabwean Ambassadors have been urged to mobilise Zimbabweans domiciled in their countries of assignment to invest back home.
Government has said the diplomats’ primary targets when scouting for investors should be Zimbabweans in the diaspora.
The Zimbabweans in the diaspora have said they are ready to invest in various sectors of the economy.
They have singled out agriculture, real estate, tourism, education and health among top opportunity windows that could benefit from skills they have acquired while working in the different countries
