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Zvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister, Ambassador Frederick Shava, yesterday took possession of the new offices of the Zimbabwe Foreign Service Institute, which he said would help transform the operations of the country’s diplomats.
Local Government and Public Works Minister Winston Chitando handed over the offices following the completion of their construction.
The state-of-the-art and imposing structure in Mt Pleasant, Harare, will be a training centre for diplomats.
Ambassador Shava was pleased with the new offices.
“I am confident that you all agree with me that this is a top-notch and a world-class construction that arguably shifts architectural practices to a new direction and exudes a blend of refined cultural and modern engineering,” he said.
“This construction project is a significant milestone in the history of our nation’s foreign service, and we are really grateful to the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, for its invaluable contribution towards its completion.
“I am very happy to say that while for a long time this project appeared to be a lofty pipe dream; our commendable collective resolve has enabled us to bring it to fruition.
“Indeed, the establishment of this project is a testament to our Government’s commitment to developing a professional and competent foreign service that can effectively represent our nation’s interests and promote our values on the international stage.
“In that context, it is befitting that we commend our President, His Excellency Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, to whom we all draw inspiration from as our chief diplomat, and for facilitating an enabling environment for the realisation of such projects under the Second Republic.”
Ambassador Shava said the Zimbabwe Foreign Service Institute would impart the necessary skills, knowledge and training to the country’s diplomats so they excel in their roles, and to contribute towards building a better world for all.
“In today’s rapidly changing global landscape, the role of diplomacy has never been more critical. The challenges facing our world today, ranging from pandemics to climate change, require a new form of diplomacy that is innovative, agile, and dynamic.
“Therefore, it is incumbent upon us to equip our diplomats with the tools and resources they need to navigate complex situations and to find solutions that work,” he said.
The institute would not only enhance the capacity of the country’s diplomats, but also serve as a platform for knowledge-sharing and collaboration with international partners.
Ambassador Shava hoped the institute would foster greater understanding and cooperation among nations and contribute towards building a more peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world.
Earlier on, Minister Chitando said the construction of infrastructure was part of the Second Republic’s vision in its quest to attain an upper middle class income economy.
“That vision is irreplaceable. The economy is growing. Look at what is happening in various sectors. We are gathered here as part of our journey towards the upper middle-income economy,” he said.
The institute’s chairperson, Ambassador Margaret Muchada, said they will collaborate with local institutions of higher learning in their work.
The event was attended by Acting Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Ambassador Rofina Chikava, outgoing Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Ambassador James Manzou and senior Government officials.
In an interview after the event, Ambassador Shava criticised the United States for calling for more sanctions on Zimbabwe over the August harmonised elections.
He said Zanu PF remained the preferred political party in the country due to its people-centred policies, adding that there was nothing untoward that the Government did to the CCC or during the August 2023 harmonised elections to warrant any punitive action
Responding to a recent announcement by US Secretary of State Mr Antony Blinken, in which he said the US would include certain individuals on sanctions and visa restrictions who undermined democracy in Zimbabwe, Ambassador Shava said Zimbabwe was not moved by the decision.
“They have always been ranting whenever they feel that their allies are losing ground. We have not done anything to the opposition except to present ourselves and them to the people,” he said.
“When the Americans look at the loss of CCC in terms of the election, they think that someone is playing tricks. No one is playing tricks. It is just that the people have a preference for Zanu PF and they have been voting for Zanu PF in this regard. They cry that they want to punish people who have been preventing ‘democracy’; (we say) their own democracy is their own baby and not ours.”
On Zimbabwe’s readmission into the Commonwealth, Ambassador Shava said Zimbabwe remained optimistic given the consultations between new members and old ones, among others.
He said the bloc sent a mission this year to assess the situation and hope that a decision would have been made by next year.
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