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Senior Reporter
President Mugabe has appointed career diplomat Mr Lovemore Mazemo as Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Nigeria, replacing Ambassador Mabed Ngulani.
The announcement was made by Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda in a Government Gazette published yesterday.
“It is hereby notified that His Excellency the President has, in terms of sections 110 (2) (i) and (204 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (Number 20), 2013 appointed Mr Lovemore Mazemo as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” read the Government Gazette.

Mr Mazemo is moving to Lagos from Zambia where he has been diplomat in Lusaka for more than seven years.

He is replacing Ms Ngulani, who is one of the diplomats that were seconded by the MDC-T during the inclusive Government.

Mr Mazemo becomes the 18th diplomat to be appointed by President Mugabe in a fortnight after the Head of State and Government made 17 appointments of ambassadors to various missions.

In an interview yesterday Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Christopher Mutsvangwa said the recalling and reassignment of ambassadors was not being targeted at anyone or any political party but was in line with international standards.

He said ambassadors from the MDC-T had their terms extended due to bickering in the inclusive Government but their terms had since expired, giving the President a platform to exercise his rights and powers under the Constitution.

“By and large all ambassadors whose term had expired have been recalled.

“It was a bonus for those in MDC to have their terms extended,” said Deputy Minister Mutsvangwa.

He said normal international standards we that an ambassador should serve in a foreign mission for at least three years but due to economic challenges Zimbabwe and other developing countries set four years for a single term.

“An ambassador should not stay too long in a country because he will become a citizen of that country. When he briefs you, chances are that he would do so like a citizen of that country.

“Those countries with better economies than ours have set three years but Zimbabwe has set the terms at four years. If our economy improves we would also consider doing the same,” said Deputy Minister Mutsvangwa.

“The normal trend is that an ambassador should come back to his country, acclimatise, understand about national issues such as Zim-Asset before he can be given another foreign assignment.”

Other ambassadors from the MDC that remained were Ms Hilda Suka-Mafudze (Sudan) and Mrs Trudy Stevenson (Senegal).