By Own Correspondent- Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, George Charamba has said President Mnangagwa’s foreign trips are justified because diplomacy does not come cheap.

He said the trips are necessary since Mnangagwa is marketing Zimbabwe as an investment destination.

In an interview with StarFM, Charamba also advised Zimbabweans to assess Mnangagwa’s trips from benefits accrued and not from a cost perspective.

Said Charamba:

There are certain costs which we have to incur. In any case, let us not forget that diplomacy does not come cheap. (They) will continue to gobble for the simple reason that when the President is taking on an assignment like engagement and re-engagement, promoting Zimbabwe as an investment destination, that is a spending item. Let us not make any qualms about it. Money will be spent to make sure we sell Zimbabwe as an investment destination, to make sure we present Zimbabwe’s case in respect of turning its mineral resources into exploitable resources that can lift the livelihoods of Zimbabweans. So when we talk austerity measures we do not close Zimbabwe as a shop.-StateMedia