Reports say that since the formation of the unity government in February last year, the disgruntled diplomats have not received their salaries. SW Radio Africa understands that staff at the diplomatic missions, the symbol of the countrys sovereignty in the family of nations, survives on allowances.
To add to their woes, embassy staff in Rome, Italy, Switzerland, Portugal and Sweden has reportedly been given notice to vacate residences, due to rent and utility arrears. The ambassador to Maputo, Agrippa Mutambara, walks to work after his official vehicle broke down last year.
The battered and old vehicle used by Zimbabwes ambassador to Nigeria has become a laughing stock in diplomatic circles there. European based Zimbabwe diplomats with children have resorted to sending them to live with relatives in the United Kingdom, where education is free up to secondary school level.
In the past government used to pay school fees for the dependents, and spouses used to get allowances, but those facilities were cancelled at the height of the economic down turn . the entire state of our diplomatic image is a shambles as underfunding paralyses the operations of missions, the source said.
It is also alleged by a diplomatic source that the Foreign Affairs Ministry has been unable to recall ambassadors and other senior and junior officers, who completed their terms as far back as 200,8 citing lack of relocation funds. ??
This leads to a situation where a diplomat abroad is forced to remain at station for eight to ten years instead of one five year term, our source added. Late last year, the business community asked government to reduce the number of its embassies, consulates and missions abroad, as a first step towards containing expenditure in the 2010 national budget.
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