President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Wednesday, 08 November challenged Zimbabwe’s diplomats to work hard to build a positive image of the country and not behave as if they are on holiday in foreign lands.
Addressing the country’s Ambassadors and Consul Generals at State House in Harare yesterday, President Mnangagwa said:
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I, therefore, challenge you to work harder to produce tangible outcomes and results that impact the overall growth of our country’s GDP and improved quality of life for our people.
Diplomatic stations are not holiday resorts; you must work and deliver traceable results for the country.
None but ourselves will build the Zimbabwe we all want. You must play your part.
Let us remain mindful that we are Zimbabweans in both thought and deeds. The Second Republic is about action and results.
I expect to see increased investments, tourists and trade coming to Zimbabwe from your countries of accreditation…
Our foreign policy remains deeply rooted in economic diplomacy, including building strong alliances at both bilateral and multilateral levels, boosting the country’s attractiveness by building its positive image to the outside world, increasing global visibility and strengthening capacity and resource mobilisation,” the President said.
As we consolidate these successes, you our diplomats have a duty to continue popularising and defending our policies and programmes, particularly that ‘Zimbabwe is open for business.’ Never be apologetic about who we are as Zimbabweans.
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Zimbabwe is seeking to deepen its relationship with the international community, particularly Western countries which imposed sanctions on the country after it embarked on the controversial land reform programme at the turn of the Millenium.
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President Mnangagwa Challenges Diplomats To Deliver Tangible Results

Representatives from the Embassy of Zimbabwe in South Africa on Saturday visited the Diepkloof Forensic Pathology Services to establish the status of Zimbabweans believed to have died in a fire in central Johannesburg last week.
South African online publication <a href="https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/gauteng/joburg-fire-death-toll-rises-to-77-as-zimbabwean-and-malawian-diplomats-visit-victims-83d2d06c-54cc-485e-ad62-b4a57da61a7e">IOL</a> reported that the death toll from the hijacked Usindiso Building which caught fire on Thursday has now risen to 77 after one of the victims rescued from fire died in hospital.
Gauteng Department of Health’s spokesperson Motalatale Modiba was quoted as saying that more than 30 patients are still being treated in different facilities in the province. Said Modiba:
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Out of the 88 patients that were seen at various health facilities – Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, Helen Joseph Hospital, South Rand Hospital, Tembisa Hospital, Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital and Hillbrow Community Health Centre – only 31 people are still receiving care.
Of the 31 patients in admission, only five still need semi-critical care however, they are fully awake.
The admitted patients are not impacting on the normal flow of trauma patients in facilities.
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Modida also revealed that authorities are conducting post-mortems on 74 bodies that were burnt in the apartheid-era Central Pass Office. He said:
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As more families come forth to report their loved ones who might have perished in the fire incident, the Gauteng Department of Health can confirm that it is on track to complete conducting post-mortems on the 74 deceased bodies.
By Saturday evening, the pathologist had done post-mortems on 58 bodies and were only left with 16 to be concluded on Sunday (today).
There are 62 unidentifiable bodies at the Diepkloof Forensic Pathology Services mortuary and 12 identifiable corpses.
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Modiba also said 40 families have so far visited the facility to report their loved ones which has resulted in a line list of 66 names that possibly died in the fire being developed. He said:
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Nine families have already identified their loved ones from the 12 identifiable bodies.
Once the families conclude the necessary processes and produce the required identification documents the mortal remains will be released to them for burial.
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The building at 80 Albert Street which fire last Thursday resulting in multiple deaths is owned by the City of Joburg.
It is situated on the corner of Delvers Street and was officially opened in 1954 as the “Non-European Affairs Department” and served as the Central Pass Office.
The building previously housed the Usindiso Ministries Women’s Shelter before it was hijacked by syndicates.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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