Back home, I continue to receive goodwill and business missions from different corners of the globe.
On our African continent, several Summits, most notably that on the African green revolution held in Kigali, Rwanda; that on investments in national and continental value chains which convened in Abidjan, Cote de Ivoire, and, only a few days ago, the Summit on African Industrialisation, which we held in Niamey, Niger — all these confirmed the important role we now play as a development thought-leader and a source of best practices for our peer nations on the continent.
Particularly noteworthy is the remarkable diplomatic warmth now between us and the European Union (EU), achieved in so short a time.
Only last week, the EU bloc launched its “Team Europe”, a new rubric under which the 27 countries comprising the bloc will coordinate and consolidate relations with us, this time through Government, and in line with, and in support of our priorities under Government’s National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).
This is the first time that the EU has disbursed directly to Zimbabwe through structures of our Government.
All along, relations were being conducted asymmetrically and unconventionally through non-governmental organisations.
The bloc has already announced a €400 million facility to run for the next couple of years, including to the private sector through its European Investment Bank (EIB).
Over and above releasing US$47 million to our Ministry of Health and Child Care, and to our Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) only last week, the EU has pledged to support our programmes under NDS1, focusing on two critical areas of Gender Equality and Women Empowerment, and that of Greener and Climate Smart Agriculture.
Who would have dreamt of such significant practical interventions by the European bloc only a few months back?
I want to acknowledge and applaud the salutary role played by the new EU Ambassador, His Excellency Jobst von Kirchmann.
It was only recently, on October 12, 2022, that I received him at State House.
Yet, he has been able to steer our relations in a new, positive direction in so short a time.
Judging by what His Excellency von Kirchmann has been able to do in less than two months since his arrival in our country, and reflecting on the positive meeting I had in Glasgow, Scotland, during COP26 in 2021 with the President of the European Council, Mister Charles Michel, I am in no doubt that Zimbabwe-European Union relations have now opened a new chapter.
We must build on this to ensure that this newly forged amity deepens and consolidates irrevocably.
Indeed, diplomats are despatched to rebuild bridges by consolidating bilateral relations for the mutual benefit of cooperating countries and blocs.
My hope that our diplomacy is set to scale to better heights in the coming year are well-founded.
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