President appoints 3 new ambassadors

via President appoints 3 new ambassadors | The Herald March 28, 2015 by Tafadzwa Ndlovu

President Mugabe has appointed three high-ranking members of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces as ambassadors to Japan, Russia and Mozambique. The announcement was made by Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda in a Government Gazette published yesterday and were made in terms of Section 110 (2) (i) and 204 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Number 20 2013.

Air Vice Marshal Titus Mehliswa Jonathan Abu-Basutu becomes Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Japan, replacing Mr Stuart Comberbach, who has been reassigned to Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet after serving in the Asian country for the past 10 years.

Air Vice Marshal Abu-Basutu was the Zimbabwe Defence Forces’ Chief of Staff Service Personnel and Logistics.

Major General Nicholas Mahuhuba Dube, who was the Chief of Staff Joint Operations and Plans in the Ministry of Defence, was moved to Mozambique as the new ambassador, taking over from Brigadier Agrippa Mutambara, who was recalled recently.

Brigadier-General Mike Nicholas Sango takes over as the ambassador to the Federation of Russia from Lieutenant Colonel Boniface Guwa Chidyausiku, who was also recalled.

Last year, President Mugabe reshuffled 17 ambassadors, replacing those that had either been recalled or retired. Some of those appointed were serving ambassadors, while others were senior staffers in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or at foreign missions.

Some of the appointments included that of Zimbabwe’s ambassador to China Dr Fredrick Musiiwa Makamure Shava, who was moved to New York as Harare’s permanent representative to the United Nations, taking over from Mr Chitsaka Chipaziwa.

Former consular general in the Far East Mr Paul Chikawa became Zimbabwe’s ambassador to China, taking over from Mr Shava.

Director for multilateral affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Taonga Mushayavanhu was appointed Zimbabwe’s permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva, replacing Mr James Manzou.

Permanent Secretary responsible for special projects in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and former Secretary for Regional Integration and International Co-operation during the inclusive Government, Mr Tadeous Tafirenyika Chifamba, was appointed Zimbabwe’s ambassador to Belgium and replaced Dr Margaret Muchada.