Government was yesterday left with egg on its face after Zimbabwe’s embassy in the United Kingdom was named among 23 diplomatic missions that are not paying their rates.

The diplomatic missions now owe the British taxman more than £1,5 million in unpaid business rates, which should have been paid on December 31, 2017.

Out of the 23 named foreign missions, the embassy of Sudan tops the list while Iran and Zimbabwe trail behind in second and third place respectively. Zimbabwe’s embassy, which occupies a Grade 11-listed building in central London, reportedly owes £101 694 (about US$129 000).

More than £73 000 of the debt is owed by Syria, which the UK government is unable to collect because the country is currently not represented in that country.

According to the list of owning missions, Sudan owes £137 122, followed by the Iranian embassy at £123 570.

Deputy Information minister Energy Mutodi said while government was aware of the arrears, it cannot expunge the obligation at the moment due to the prevailing foreign currency shortages. “However, a solution will eventually be found,” said Mutodi.

He said an economic transitional stabilisation programme being pursued by government seeks to reduce its expenditure and release resources towards the reduction of its domestic and external debts.

On the international front, Mutodi said efforts were also currently underway to normalise relations with countries that were previously not in good books with Harare.

Daily News