Story by Josephine Mugiyo, Diplomatic Correspondent
Three new Ambassadors-designate set to represent Zimbabwe in France, China and Indonesia have bade farewell to President Emmerson Mnangagwa at State House this Friday.
The three ambassadors-designate who head to their new missions include Ambassador Sekai Nzenza who will represent the country in France; Portugal, the Vatican and Spain; Ambassador Abigail Shonhiwa will be Zimbabwe’s top envoy in China, while Ambassador Martin Makururu will be the country’s representative in Indonesia.
Ambassador Nzenza said her work is cut out as she aims to ensure Zimbabwe’s economic growth narrative is understood in her missions, highlighting the need to ensure more investors from France explore opportunities available in Zimbabwe.
“I have a big portfolio and I’m eager and ready to be promoting Zimbabwe’s national interests, particularly in France. We want to ensure the Zimbabwean narrative is fully understood. As the former minister of industry, I’ve been working closely with business, so frankly, as a country we want to promote investment in various sectors of the economy,” she said.
As she heads to China, Ambassador Shonhiwa is keen to see technology transfer from the Asian country to Zimbabwe, given the expertise of China in technology.
“I’m going to Beijing where I will be promoting the already excellent relations between the two countries. We want to see more investments, more tourists, we want to see technology transfers. We all know the giant that China is in terms of investment,” she noted.
As Ambassador-designate Makururu heads to Indonesia, he is clear of his mandate of advancing Zimbabwe’s interests.
“We are riding on the mantra, Zimbabwe is open for business. Not only are we open, but we are ready to do business. We are quite happy we have lithium we need to process, Indonesia has expressed a willingness to help in that area.”
Meanwhile, the outgoing Indian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, His Excellency Mr Vijay Kanduja has bade farewell to the head of state.
He described relations between the two countries as excellent, noting the need for cooperation to go beyond the Pharmaceutical sector.
“We recently cooperated in the Deka Pipeline, a 43 km pipeline which has been laid with Indian assistance. It’s providing water not just for communities and animals and the Hwange thermal power station,” said H.E Khanduja.
Zimbabwe’s engagement and re-engagement policy is bearing fruit as reflected by several investors flocking into the country.
