By Derick Tsimba
The Second Republic led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade has made progress in its re-engagement efforts with the international community.
Since 2017, President Mnangagwa has ad infinitum stressed the importance of the country to be re-admitted into the community of nations as part of efforts to market as open to business.
The President recently laid Zimbabwe’s foreign policy drive that should guide the Second Republic in all its engagements with the international community. The current foreign policy drive anchored on transactional economics and trade diplomacy espoused by the mantra ‘Zimbabwe is Open for Business,’ should soon start to bear fruits.
Whilst being driven by transactional economics and trade diplomacy, the foreign policy should see the end of the country’s estrangement through re-engagement. The focus of the foreign policy revolves around rebranding our country’s image, consolidating old friendships, opening new economic frontiers of mutual beneficial co-operation, and rapprochement.
For the betterment of the nation, Zimbabwe should continue to find ways to strengthen co-operation with the rest of Africa because the continent remains central to its foreign policy engagements. The African Union’s (AU) ‘Agenda 2063’, the continental developmental framework which Zimbabwe has also committed itself to, should strengthen the nation economically.
Zimbabwe recently ratified the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) and has started the progression of ratifying the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance as part of its commitment to the AU cause.
Zimbabwe should benefit from the AfCTA which endeavours to form a single continental market for goods and services, accelerate free movement of business persons and investments, and expand intra-African trade through harmonized trade liberalization.
To date, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade has also made strides courting the international community to accommodate Zimbabwe after it turned over a new era.
On strengthening relations with friendly countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to strengthen and consolidate its bilateral relations with key Asian and Brazil, Russia India and South Africa (BRICS) countries, through exchange visits, Joint Commissions and co-operation in various sectors of the economy.
It can be noted that the country secured investment from Russia which was revealed during a courtesy call to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by outgoing Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Zimbabwe and Malawi, Sergy V.Bakharev. During his six year tenure on duty, Zimbabwe managed to lure two big Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) - Darwendale Platinum and Alrosa Diamonds. Russia has been one of the major supporters of Zimbabwe in its effort to bring its economy back on foot.
Zimbabwe continues to receive support from SADC countries to revamp its economy. The Ambassador Designate to the Republic of Botswana, Mr Batiraishe Henry Mukonoweshuro also paid a courtesy call on Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Sibusiso Busi Moyo, where he said his major drive was to lure investors from Botswana to Zimbabwe and make sure trade between the two countries was enhanced.
Similarly, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Kenya, Mrs Winnipeg Moyo also paid the same courtesy call and indicated that economic diplomacy with Zimbabwe would be a major priority during her tenure.
In the same vein, the President is currently on a three-day State visit in Namibia where he signed bilateral agreements between Zimbabwe and Namibia which are aimed at boosting trade between the two countries.
The bilateral agreements which include joint trade and economic committee between the two countries, cooperation on the promotion of small and medium enterprises development and mutual customs assistance agreement should assist the country on its quest to turn around the economy through mending its economic foreign policy.
