Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba
Senior Reporter
FOUR ambassadors-designate to the United States, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa and Cuba yesterday bade farewell to Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga at his Munhumutapa offices in Harare.
Ambassador David Hamadziripi will represent Zimbabwe in the US, while Ambassador Isaac Moyo heads to the UAE.
Ambassador-designate Lovemore Mazemo will take over as Zimbabwe’s envoy to South Africa, while Ambassador-designate Patrick Mutasa will assume the role of Zimbabwe’s representative to Cuba.
This week, President Mnangagwa dispatched the four ambassadors-designate at State House in Harare.
Speaking in an interview this week after a closed-door meeting, Ambassador Hamadziripi said he would oversee the continued thawing of ties between Harare and Washington during his tenure.
He said they were going to pursue a relationship that is beneficial, a relationship that is respectful, and a relationship that is going to bring benefits to both nations.
Ambassador-designate Mazemo said his main mission was to ensure sustained relations between Zimbabwe and South Africa across the board.
The two countries are strategic neighbours who traditionally enjoy cordial political and economic relations.
Ambassador-designate Mazemo said he would also work on promoting Zimbabwe as a favourable investment destination.
On his part, Ambassador-designate Moyo said President Mnangagwa had directed him to pursue increased economic relations with the UAE.
Meanwhile, VP Chiwenga is expected in South Africa today to lead Zimbabwe’s delegation at this year’s G20 Summit.
“We got very clear instructions about the kind of national interest we must work for, and we all understood what it is about; it is really the economy, the economy, and the economy.
“And in my particular case in the UAE, I am going to work to create opportunities, to bring business to this country (Zimbabwe), to enhance trade opportunities for this country.
“It is the economy and the politics that must serve that,” he said.
Ambassador-designate Mutasa said he was going to work on bolstering the already existing good relations between Zimbabwe and Cuba.
The Zimbabwean diplomat said he would focus on improving economic relations between the two countries, considering that both are under US sanctions.
Zimbabwe and Cuba already have agreements in place with respect to pharmaceuticals production.
As such, Ambassador-designate Mutasa said he would work on ensuring that the agreements translate into action on the ground.
The Ambassador-designate said he would also champion collaboration in the areas of sport and agriculture.
