Farai Dziva|Presidential spokesperson George Charamba has defended his boss Emmerson Mnangagwa’ s expensive foreign trips saying such programmes are unavoidable.

Charamba told Star FM last night diplomacy cannot be cheap.

According to Charamba the trips are necessary since Mnangagwa is marketing Zimbabwe as an investment destination.

“There are certain costs that we have to incur. In any case, let us not forget that diplomacy is not 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 of austerity measures we do not close Zimbabwe as a shop,” claimed Charamba.