By Dickson Bandera
The Zimbabwe Foreign Service Institute (ZFSI) is set to significantly broaden access to diplomacy and international relations training following the introduction of a hybrid learning model that blends face-to-face instruction with virtual delivery, marking a decisive shift in Zimbabwe’s foreign policy capacity-building architecture.
The development was announced on Tuesday by ZFSI Board Chair Ambassador Dr Margaret Muchada during a media interface convened to outline the Institute’s mandate, academic programmes, and its expanding strategic role within Zimbabwe’s foreign policy ecosystem.
Established in 2022 following Presidential Proclamation 2 of 2020 by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the Zimbabwe Foreign Service Institute stands as a flagship investment in national human capital development.
The Institute functions as a strategic training, research, and advisory hub for government in diplomacy, foreign policy, international relations, trade, tourism, and broader global engagement.
ZFSI graduated its inaugural cohort under the Diplomatic Training Course in December 2023, with participants drawn largely from within government. Since then, the Institute has steadily positioned itself as a cornerstone in the professionalisation of Zimbabwe’s foreign service and the strengthening of institutional competence in international engagement.
Recognising that many prospective participants are already in full-time employment, the Institute has adopted flexible learning schedules supported by digital platforms.
“So we have our programs which follow flexible timetables that will enable people who need to undertake this type of training on a certain basis to undertake their training and still be able to perform their roles. We have a virtual system that will enable us to render such training even online,” she said.
Ambassador Muchada said the hybrid model is particularly suited to short-term courses designed to impart foundational and practical diplomatic knowledge.
“Of particular interest to most of our clients would be the short-term courses, whose objectives would provide inter-alia understanding of the Zimbabwe foreign relations, doctrine and policy, understanding of the constitution, developing a polished professional image and self-projection,” Ambassador Muchada said.
She said the programmes are deliberately structured to equip participants with practical diplomatic competencies required in modern international engagement, adding that the curriculum places strong emphasis on professional conduct and communication.
She noted that the training also focuses on:
“Mastering diplomatic protocol and etiquette, understanding the impact of cultural diversity on international relations, appreciating the import of verbal and non-verbal communication skills.”
Other core training areas include protocol procedures for official meetings and international events, conflict resolution, negotiation skills, and relationship-building with international counterparts—competencies Ambassador Muchada said are indispensable in today’s interconnected global environment.
Looking ahead, the Institute plans to introduce diploma, degree, and master’s programmes as it expands its academic footprint. ZFSI is also developing specialised foreign language programmes aimed at closing skills gaps and strengthening Zimbabwe’s diplomatic effectiveness across diverse linguistic and cultural regions.
Beyond training, the Institute’s second core mandate is research—providing continuous policy analysis and producing evidence-based recommendations to inform government decision-making.
“In our second mandate, on research, where we are continually analyzing government policy and making recommendations to government, we see you (media) playing a strong role in publicizing the outputs and outcomes from these initiatives because you are the face of the nation,” Ambassador Muchada said.
She emphasised the media’s critical role in shaping public understanding of foreign policy, diplomacy, and Zimbabwe’s engagement with international partners. She cited devolution as a key policy area, noting the growing importance of ensuring accurate and accessible information as foreign interactions increasingly occur at provincial, district, and even village levels.
Foreign Policy Direction and Economic Diplomacy
The media interface was officiated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Professor Amon Murwira, who outlined Zimbabwe’s evolving foreign policy framework and reforms aimed at ensuring diplomacy delivers tangible national benefits.
Professor Murwira said Cabinet has approved the Foreign Relations and International Trade Policy, which provides a strategic roadmap to strengthen diplomacy, boost exports, grow tourism, and protect Zimbabweans abroad.
He explained that foreign policy encompasses the totality of strategies and actions a state employs in its engagement with other states and international actors, spanning peace and security, economic development, trade, investment, and humanitarian cooperation.
Zimbabwe’s foreign policy is anchored in a Doctrine on Foreign Relations built on six pillars: Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo; dismantling colonial mindsets; leaving no one and no place behind; “friend to all, enemy to none” diplomacy; Zimbabwe is Open for Business; and Zimbabwe will never be a colony again.
Delivering Results Through Institutions
Professor Murwira said Zimbabwe’s diplomatic posture is already yielding dividends, citing rising export receipts and growing international recognition of institutions such as ZimTrade, while initiatives like ZimAid are strengthening the country’s humanitarian outreach and soft-power diplomacy.
With institutions such as the Zimbabwe Foreign Service Institute gaining momentum, Zimbabwe is positioning itself to project integrity, dignity, and prosperity on the global stage—anchoring its diplomacy in skilled statecraft, institutional coherence, and strategic communication.
