Harare (New Ziana) –Zimbabwe’s representatives in foreign countries on Friday signed performance-based contracts, as the government pursues economic diplomacy to drive its development agenda of attaining an Upper Middle-Income Economy by 2030.
Ministers and permanent secretaries, chief executive officers of parastatals and local authorities, chief directors and directors have also signed performance contracts as part of the Second Republic’s result-based approach to service delivery.
Officiating at the signing ceremony, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Frederick Shava said the government was prioritising a result driven approach in conducting its business, hence the performance-based contracts.
“The institutionalisation of a culture of high performance in government, underpinned by performance contracts, among other mechanisms, is predicated on the policy pronouncements made by His Excellency the President, Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa, on the need to have a public sector that is staffed with competent, hardworking and committed cadres, who pride themselves in delivery of quality and timely services,” he said.
“Let me emphasise that through the National Development Strategy 1, the Government has made relentless efforts to re-integrate Zimbabwe into the Global Community of Nations, through its Affirmation, Engagement and Re-engagement thrust, with a view to address the negative perceptions about the country and make it a reputable destination for international investment and tourists.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade plays a critical role in this regard. We should, therefore, pull up our sleeves and have an appetite for achieving big and impactful results. The onus is upon us to establish that hallmark of performance.”
Shava said some of the targeted results included increasing global visibility, building strong alliances at both bilateral and multilateral levels, boosting attractiveness by building a positive image to the outside world, as well as strengthening capacity building and Resource utilisation.
“The multi-pronged Foreign Policy thrust of the Second Republic revolves around engaging those countries we have had erstwhile relations with over matters of principle, consolidating old friendships and opening new economic frontiers for mutual beneficial co-operation. It therefore, lies upon us to ensure that these pillars are attained to produce impactful results,” he said.
“As representatives of His Excellency the President in your countries of accreditation, succeeding or failing to produce results will not only reflect on the Ministry, but also on yourselves and Senior Management at Head Office. Let us all strive to leave an indelible ink of a legacy of high performance, which will be cherished by the next generation.”
He said because Zimbabwe has a large Diaspora community spread across the globe, the representatives were also expected to facilitate its participation in the country’s socio-economic development agenda.
“Let me reiterate that we cannot do things the same way we have done them before and expect new results. For us to get the desired results, the old ways of doing business have to change and improve. We need to plan but also meet our set targets,” he said.
The ambassadors have attended a Retreat and Strategic Workshop in Bulawayo between October 30 and November 4 this year.
On Tuesday the envoys toured the US$1 billion Dinson Iron & Steel Company (DISCO) in Manhize, Mvuma district, Mashonaland East province, which is a subsidiary of the Tsingshan Holdings.
The following day they went on a three-leged tour of projects which the Second Republic is undertaking starting with the New Parliament Building in Mt Hampden, about 11 kilometers northwest of the capital, followed by the National Pharmaceutical Warehouse in Southerton, which President Emmerson Mnangagwa also toured on October 6 this year.
The ambassadors ended the day with a tour of the Robert Mugabe International Airport where they got an appreciation of the ongoing work on the expansion project. The civil works at the airport are being undertaken by China Jiangsu International.
On Thursday the envoys toured the Museum of African Liberation, a project being spearheaded by the emerging pan-African think tank, the Institute of African Knowledge (INSTAK).
Other projects by INSTAK are the Africa Factbook in association with the African Union Commission and the Book of African Records.
The tour gave the Ambassadors knowledge about Africa and the African people.
New Ziana
