Mthuli Ncube to shut down foreign embassies

GOVERNMENT is set to cut the number of its foreign embassies to a manageable few as part of its new measures to reduce expenditure and try to draw maximum value from those that shall remain operational.

Presenting his 2019 budget statement Thursday, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube said government this year alone ran a $15 million deficit through expenditure directed at foreign missions.

"Currently, Zimbabwe has diplomatic presence at 46 Embassies and Consulates, staffed by around 581 home based and locally recruited staff," he said.

"The above diplomatic presence is currently imposing annual budgetary support levels of around $65 million, which is above available 2018 Budget capacity of $50 million.

"Government has resolved to reduce the number of Foreign Missions, thereby optimising the utility value realised from the remaining missions as well as avoiding accumulation of arrears and embarrassing evictions of our diplomats."

Government, Ncube said, as part of its new focus on economics, will begin a re-orientation exercise to make sure its diplomats shift attention to economic diplomacy.

"Most important is the ongoing re-orientation of our Diplomatic Missions towards economic and trade diplomacy.

"The Budget proposes rationalisation of some of the Missions in pursuit of this objective," said the treasury boss.