Online Reporter
Gibson Nyikadzino
Herald Reporter
ZIMBABWE remains steadfast in its trajectory as a stable and mature democracy, leveraging principled statecraft to engage the community of nations as guided by three constitutionally-enshrined pillars of peace and security, economic and social interests, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Professor Amon Murwira has said.
Addressing media professionals yesterday at an interactive meeting on the role of the media in shaping foreign policy and national interest at the Zimbabwe Foreign Service Institute (ZFSI), Prof Murwira said the country’s foreign policy, built on six core doctrinal values, ensured the nation spoke with one voice as led by President Mnangagwa.
The minister said Zimbabwe pursued this path without seeking to offend any state or harbouring interests in extra-territorial gains. Instead, the nation is resolved in its “long-game approach,” where foreign policy seeds planted today would bear fruit for future generations.
The International Trade and Foreign Ministry acted as the authentic vessel for the President’s vision, ensuring that the nation’s mandate was executed with absolute clarity.
“A nation communicates its intent through set diplomatic channels. These diplomatic engagements are guided by our interests that include peace and security, economic interests and social interests. The nation survives by maintaining these three interests,” said Prof Murwira.
“It is in pursuit of these objectives that the nation speaks with one voice which is represented by President Mnangagwa and his spokesperson who is the Minister of Foreign Affairs. To execute this mandate, the Ministry acts as a channel that speaks and without speculation, but talk only when it is authentic. This ensures there is absolute clarity.”
No other entity was mandated to speak for the country except through established diplomatic channels at both national and multilateral levels, with Prof Murwira warning that “peace is built and destroyed by what you say.”
Zimbabwe’s foreign policy was a mirror of the nation’s internal aspirations and agreed-upon domestic values.
“Our outward posture is a reflection of our internal consensus. Our foreign policy is a reflection of our aspirations as a country. These are concretised in the national constitution. The values we project at global level are the ones we agree at home. Our outward posture is a reflection of our internal consensus,” he said.
The national doctrine, which informed Zimbabwe’s foreign policy goals, comprised six core values: A country is built by its own people (Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo); liberation of the mind; leaving no one and no place behind; a friend to all and enemy to none; Zimbabwe is Open for Business; and Zimbabwe will forever be a sovereign and independent state.
ZFSI is set to offer training in diplomacy to journalists and media professionals to empower them with knowledge requisite in articulating the country’s economic diplomacy and engagement thrust.
Ambassador Dr Margaret Muchada, the ZFSI chair, said the short courses to journalists will focus on understanding Zimbabwe’s foreign policy doctrine, cultural diversity in the world, verbal and non-verbal communication, managing conflict and negotiating skills among other topics.
