Chronicle Editor
Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade is sitting on a US$22 million debt in unpaid staff salaries, rentals and operation costs at its various offices dotted around the world.
Foreign Affairs Minister Ambassador Fredrick Shava said Zimbabwe can be a prominent player on the world stage through its economic diplomacy as well as engagement and re-engagement policy if it invests in its diplomats.
He said his ministry requires over $32 billion to be able to renovate about 10 consul facilities next year as he implored Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube to allocate enough resources to the ministry in the 2022 national budget.
The Ministry owes its staff more than US$16 million in salary arrears dating back to a number of years back. Rental arrears are more than US$3 million.
“Let us remove the legacy debt in the next few months which gets to US$22 million and goes back a long way. Let us try and remove the legacy debt and restore our responsibility,” said Ambassador Shava.
He said Treasury allocated his Ministry $13,5 billion for the year 2022 against the Ministry’s proposed budget of $32,7 billion.
This caters for construction, renovations, purchase of properties as well as vehicles, furniture and office equipment for both head office and missions.
“The allocated budget will not be adequate to meet the Ministry’s requirements considering the current deplorable state of our properties which does not portray the true image of the country,” said Ambassador Shava.
He said the Ministry has renovated seven mission properties this year.
These are in Lilongwe in Malawi, Beira and Maputo in Mozambique, Nairobi in Kenya, Washington in USA, Windhoek in Namibia and Lusaka in Zambia.
He said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs targets to renovate 10 missions next year including in Pretoria and Johannesburg in South Africa, Botswana and other countries.
He said the Ministry’s responsibility to the diaspora population includes consular services hence it has to spruce up the image of consular missions.
Ambassador Shava said resources should be set aside to upgrade especially the Johannesburg office as it is key to foreign policy. – @ncubeleon
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