PRESIDENT Mnangagwa will continue travelling abroad as part
of his re-engagement efforts and his trips must not be assessed from a cost
perspective, but from benefits accrued, his office has said.
In an interview with Star FM last night, Deputy Chief
Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Mr George Charamba said diplomacy does
not come cheap.
Mr Charamba is the presidential spokesperson. He was
responding to queries from some quarters on the essence of President
Mnangagwa’s foreign trips.
“There are certain costs which we have to incur. In any
case, let us not forget that diplomacy does not come cheap,” said Mr Charamba.
He said some costs were not avoidable and it was about time
Zimbabweans realised it.
“(They) will continue to gobble for the simple reason that
when the President is taking on an assignment like engagement and
re-engagement, promoting Zimbabwe as an investment destination, that is a
spending item. Let us not make any qualms about it. Money will be spent to make
sure we sell Zimbabwe as an investment destination, to make sure we present
Zimbabwe’s case in respect of turning its mineral resources into exploitable
resources that can lift the livelihoods of Zimbabweans. So when we talk
austerity measures we do not close Zimbabwe as a shop,” said Mr Charamba.
On why the President hires a plane when travelling abroad,
Mr Charamba said “precisely because we have an ailing Air Zimbabwe”.
He, however, said efforts were being made to resuscitate
Air Zimbabwe.
“If you were following reports you will be aware we have
taken receipt of planes from Malaysia and there are two planes that are on
their way to Zimbabwe. Then when the President was in Ethiopia just recently,
there is promise of an agreement Ethiopian Airlines and Air Zimbabwe to try and
improve the Air Zimbabwe fleet level. There are lots of things that are
happening except we are dealing with the policy of engagement and re-engagement
which cannot wait. There are certain costs which we have to incur. In any case
let us not forget that diplomacy does not come cheap,” he added.
Mr Charamba said it was wrong to concentrate on costs of
the President’s foreign trips instead of benefits accrued.
“I think the misconception is the template that we
concentrate on the costs and do not play up the benefits which are accruing to
the economy. I will give you an example of the Eurasia trip by President. I can
assure you in the next few months, the public transport system is going to
change in a very dramatic way, thanks to that particular trip. Buses will come
which will decongest our roads to ensure that there is safe travel and is also
better productivity on the part of the workforce,” he said.
“You will see the Darwendale platinum project will soon
start in the process creating several jobs, several hundreds of jobs. That is
creation of employment. You will see mega investment along the Zambezi River of
an agricultural nature including agro-processing.
“You will see a picking up of tempo by way of mining
activities in the country which is why we had Minister (Winston) Chitando as
part of President’s delegation. That is also why we had Minister (Perrance)
Shiri representing the agriculture sector as part of the President’s
delegation.” Herald
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