The Role of Diplomacy in Re-engaging the International Community: Meeting the Challenges of Zimbabwe’s New Dispensation
Diplomacy is the only ultimate tool of statecraft that the new dispensation in Zimbabwe need to engage with the rest of the world. The new dispensation as it is, has been in the right direction in consideration of its foreign policy thrust. This was said by Mr Chikanda, the Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Institute of Diplomacy and the current President of the Rotary e-Club “Ambassador 9210”, while giving a lecture to the Rotary Club of Highlands. President of the Club , Ms E. Hatendi, had prior to this invited Mr Chikanda in view of his experience in the field of negotiation skills, diplomacy, international relations, diplomatic protocol and among other areas.
Rotary makes a difference in societies; it applies diplomacy for networking and strengthening the social welfare status of the disadvantaged . As a Rotaract, Mr Chikanda, enunciated the Rotary ethos and felt that Rotary should continue to love and care for each other and the communities they serve. He commended Rotary Club of Highlands for the positive impact it is making in people’s lives.
The lecture covered a wide range of issues including the way the government is addressing the economy that was destroyed for the past 37 years, the general elections that are at the doorstep of the new dispensation and among other issues. The lecture emphasized the fact that diplomacy is as old as the biblical times, when the first human societies decided that it was better to hear the message that to eat the messenger. Mr Chikanda highlighted possible solutions to Zimbabwe’s economic and political recovery, which included the following; re-organising government ministries and structures towards effectiveness, efficiency and professionalism; reducing the size of bureaucracy including retiring those senior civil servants above the age of 65 years old; reducing the number of parastatals from the current 92 to 20 and converting the rest to government departments within ministries; create youth employment for the more than 70% youths that are unemployed – making Zimbabwe Great Again.
He also underscored that Zimbabwe now had the right architect in His Excellency E. D Mnangagwa and called upon the populace to support him in developing Zimbabwe and not be a one-man band . He told the gathering that Zimbabwe must identify its past weaknesses in the economy including the warped fiscal policies, duplication and wide spread institutionalised corruption which was made by civil and public servants who overstayed in posts. Mr Chikanda employed the new dispensation to continue taking the sterling measures to rejuvenate Zimbabwe’s economy. He also focused on integrative diplomacy, as being the art of networking with the public and private sector into the economy, understanding the plighted of the Zimbabweans and provide public good Zimbabwe was lacking.
President V. A Chikanda, called upon Zimbabwe to revisit the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements (BIPPAs) which according to him, violated trust amongst Zimbabwe’s allies and said, Zimbabwe has no apologies to make for the land it ceased but the country should focus on re-building international confidence and timely compensate the white farmers who lost business through the land reform programme. Investments were institutionalised by government without adequate compensation. This is the only way Zimbabwe could attract lost investments and provide an investor with a peace of mind.
Responding to a plethora of questions from the audience such as what is the relationship between the bible and diplomacy, he said the bible and diplomacy are intrinsically linked because our God is not an author of confusion and he wants order in church as well as in our homes and communities we live in Diplomacy started with God and a “human being without diplomacy is a mere reasoning savage”. Mr Chikanda was quick to point out that the lecture content will be more appropriate to mentor the civil servants. The Institute has unrolled programmes not only to teachers but also for prefects, public servants, government department and children since they are the future leaders.
Answering a question on the nexus between security and peace, he noted that the three components – peace, security and reform – are closely linked. He highlighted that reform is necessary in the country but if a country reforms should not forget development. Without these three, a nation cannot enjoy peace. Peace is therefore not only the absence of war. The Zimbabwean government need to reform its security sector (police, army and CIO). A credible security of a country is a prerequisite for progress, peace and prosperity
Responding to the question if Zimbabweans are hardworking, Mr Chikanda said that Zimbabweans are not only hardworking but are also peace loving people who are now focused on doing the wrong things. We have failed to put people in formal employment so that they can show their spirit. We have destroyed our infrastructure and prostituted the nation and cannot show how hardworking we are.
Asked on whether if it was Zimbabwe people messing the environment, Mr Chikanda referred to US president remarks that African countries are “shithole” countries, which means they are dirty, corrupt and the revolution in Africa brought wrong leaders and we need a new revolution. He, however, quickly dismissed Trump’s accusations and said we as Africans have a potential to do better and challenged Africans to prove Trump wrong by being efficient, clean,smart, loving and supportive. Africa is the richest continent and have nothing in its pocket. The Institute is running programmes to train teachers, headmasters and children and is working closely with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to instill ethos of professionalism in the education curriculum.
In summation, it is understood that Zimbabweans have been taken for a ride and it is the duty of every citizen to have patience as we recover from a very serious economic decay. The election has been promised to be free and fair and Zimbabwe has been experiencing a new fresh air of corrupt free country in the new dispensation.
“Service Above Self”