Zimbabwe claims to be up to date with payments

Zimbabwe has successfully settled its subscriptions to international organizations and significantly reduced salary arrears for diplomats. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade praised the Ministry of Finance and Investment Promotion for timely releasing the necessary foreign currency to cover these expenses. Salary arrears for foreign staff have been reduced from US$14.2 million as of September 30 last year to US$7.33 million as of the end of September this year. At the current rate of payment, it is expected that these arrears will be entirely eliminated by the end of this year.

Mrs. Rofina Chikava, Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, shared this information during a budget consultative meeting for 2024 with the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade. She emphasized that the Ministry of Finance has been consistently providing foreign currency every month to cover embassy expenses and international organization subscriptions.

Mrs. Chikava also mentioned that funding has been made available by the Treasury for property refurbishments at various missions around the world. Renovations have been completed at three properties in Pretoria and Beira, two in Johannesburg, and one each in Maputo, Washington, and Nairobi. Additionally, ongoing renovations are in progress in several locations, including Washington, London, Abuja, Lusaka, Dodoma (Tanzania), Gaborone, Pretoria, and Berlin. The Ministry is also renovating a new chancery in Johannesburg, which will house the e-passport center and is expected to become operational by the end of the year.