Zimbabwe now up-to-date with diplomats' salaries

Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary, Mr Joey Bimha says the payment of local staff's salaries in the country's diplomatic missions is now up to date from the time their payroll was transferred in September.

Speaking to the ZBC News in Harare today, Mr Bimha said following the taking over of payment of local staff by the Salary Services Bureau (SSB), the problem of arrears in diplomatic missions continues to be faced in the payment of utility bills and rentals.

He said due to financial constraints facing the country, four Zimbabwean diplomatic missions are facing liquidation threats due to rent arrears.

Responding to why the ministry has not reduced the number of diplomatic missions in the face of the financial challenges, Mr Bimha said diplomatic missions that Zimbabwe is operating are executing their given mandates well and have no reason to be terminated.

He also noted that it would also be more costly for the country to shut them down at this point in time as the rental arrears have to be paid first while the relocating diplomats also need to be paid.

He also said the power to open or close an embassy is also the prerogative of the Head of State and Government who appoints the government representatives to the foreign lands.

The remarks by the Permanent Secretary comes amid talk by critics that the country has too many missions abroad and that some should be closed due to financial woes.