FROM THE AMBASSADOR

My tour of duty as the Ambassador of Zimbabwe to the United States of America has come to an end. I want to take this opportunity to say a few words to all those who have partnered with the Embassy during my tenure as the Ambassador of Zimbabwe to the United States of America.

I am encouraged by the positive response by American investors who have realized that Zimbabwe is indeed open for business. Since the end of the lockdown period following the Covid-19 Pandemic, we have witnessed increased American business missions to Zimbabwe. The business missions’ positive feedback has highlighted what we already knew; that Zimbabwe has a significant role to play in world business.  That some of these missions have resulted in projects on the ground is inspiring, and the establishment of the American Chamber of Commerce in Harare speaks of the tremendous opportunities that Zimbabwe offers and underlines the fact that American business is welcome in Zimbabwe.  It is my hope that American business missions to Zimbabwe will continue and that their voice in calling for the removal of all the remaining sanctions will grow.

To the Zimbabwean Diaspora, from the onset, I was touched by the warm welcome you gave to my family and me upon our arrival.  We have had many rich and fruitful conversations about our beautiful country, its challenges, and most importantly, the opportunities that Zimbabwe offers. I am heartened that these conversations have produced tangible results as exemplified by the investments the Zimbabwe Diaspora Community have embarked on, especially in ICT, Tourism and Biotechnology. I believe that the involvement of the Zimbabwe Diaspora, with all its brain power and tremendous will, is bound to change the trajectory of development in Zimbabwe. Let us heed President E.D.’s clarion call that “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo” The remittances you send home are not only benefitting your families, but the Zimbabwean economy in general.

Special mention goes to Zimbabweans I have met in different settings.  To the golfers, I will cherish the time we spent on the golf course and the lively conversations we had on the 19^th hole. It was indeed an honor to participate in the WAZIGA tournament held in Harare in December 2023. I also met several Community Groups such as COZDA and individual Zimbabweans whose philanthropic work is highly commendable.  A special word of thanks to the Ziva Kwavakabva Group, for inculcating Zimbabwean culture and values to our children and vazukuru born in the diaspora. Your charitable endeavors make a positive difference to the lives of those less fortunate in our country and other people in the USA. The difference that your donations make in the lives of these people cannot be understated.

I have met many Zimbabweans in the Church. I want to thank the congregants of the Christian Fellowship International, the Harvest International Church, and Zion Church who have invited me and my wife to fellowship with them.  Let us continue to preach love and reduce polarization.  To my fellow Methodist congregants, thank you for giving my wife and me a spiritual home during our time in Washington DC.

It has been an honor to provide Consular Services to the Zimbabwean Community in the USA. The Consular outreaches carried out by the Embassy gave me an opportunity to interact with a cross section of our Diaspora.   We considered it a privilege to take the Embassy to our people in various states.  The Embassy is currently negotiating with the Registrar General’s office in Harare to undertake a Consular outreach Mission to attend to the need for documentation such as Birth Certificates, Identity Cards and Passports in the various states. The Zimbabwe Consulate in Johannesburg is now able to issue e-passports.  Hopefully, that pilot program will be implemented in the US soon.  This will offer a more convenient way for Zimbabweans in the US to apply for and replace documents. This is being done to minimize the inconvenience that Zimbabweans in the diaspora endure when applying for and replacing documents.

The Embassy has had the pleasure of hosting Zimbabwean student groups and other visitors to the United States.  I wish to restate that the Embassy of Zimbabwe in Washington DC is every Zimbabwean’s home away from home, and Zimbabweans visiting the US are welcome to the Chancery.

Lastly, I wish to express gratitude to my colleagues at the Embassy. There is not much I would have achieved without your support and cooperation. Your dedication to duty and the desire to serve your country are attributes that should be emulated, and I know you will give my successor the same level of support for the benefit of our country.

God Bless our Motherland