GOVERNMENT is struggling to meet its financial obligations, including salaries and operational costs, for its diplomatic missions due to foreign currency shortage, a government official has revealed.
Foreign Affairs deputy minister Sheila Chikomo told Senators this while giving an update on the status of Zimbabwe’s diplomatic missions regarding salaries for mission staff, contributions and subscriptions to international organisations, state of State residences and chancelleries, among other issues.
She said the ministry faced challenges due to foreign currency shortages amid the opening of five new missions without a corresponding increase in budget.
“The ministry has been paying salaries and operations to missions on a monthly basis since January 2021 to date,” Chikomo said.
“However, the operational budget has not been adequate due to the general shortage of foreign currency in the country. The operational budget was also affected by the opening of five new missions in (Belarus, Pakistan, Equatorial Guinea, Dubai and Riyadh), while the budget remained the same.”
She added that a new salary structure and conditions of service were introduced in April with some improvements, but challenges persisted regarding salaries.
“We welcome the new conditions of service, there are improvements in some areas. There are, however, challenges with regards to salaries.”
On arrears, Chikomo said government had made significant progress in clearing its legacy salary arrears.
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She said the ministry managed to settle a greater part of the debt by December 2022, leaving only US$6,8 million outstanding.
“The ministry owed salaries to foreign service staff amounting to about US$48,5 million by December 2020,” the deputy minister said.
“The ministry managed to pay off this debt by December 2022 and only US$6,8 million remained outstanding through a deliberate programme by the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion. This debt is still outstanding.”
Reports of underfunding of the embassies are not new, with employees at various missions having gone for months without pay at times.
In 2016, the country’s Hong Kong, London and the United Kingdom embassies were sued over non-payment of rentals.
