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Wallace Ruzvidzo, Harare Bureau

ZIMBABWE Ambassador-designate to the United Nations Office in Geneva Ever Mlilo has pledged to further the country’s interests as well as correct the negative narrative pushed by the country’s erstwhile detractors during her tenure in Switzerland.

The newly-appointed Permanent Representative to the UN Office in Geneva yesterday paid a courtesy call on President Mnangagwa, where she was briefed on her tasks.

In an interview after her meeting with the President, Ambassador Mlilo said in addition to pursuing the country’s economic development interests, she would “use every means” to correct the country’s narrative on the global stage.

President Mnangagwa 

“I will be advancing the cause of Zimbabwe, the interests of Zimbabwe, increasing the visibility of Zimbabwe in the international forum.

“I will also be pursuing economic development as it is guided by our mantra, ‘Zimbabwe is Open for Business’, we are open to business, and also to correct the wrong narrative that is out there about Zimbabwe.

“We need to tell them who we are and what we stand for, and we are going to use every means to correct the narrative, especially at the United Nations Human Rights Council, and the International Labour Organisation,” she said.

Ambassador Mlilo’s mission to Geneva is her first diplomatic posting.
“It is a moment of tremendous privilege . . . It is an honour that has been bestowed on me by His Excellency the President to represent him in this capacity and the great nation of Zimbabwe.

“I am grateful and I am forever indebted to him,” she said.
Mrs Mlilo said she was confident that her expansive career in the Zimbabwe Republic Police and as a legal officer prior to her diplomatic posting, would help her in the discharge of duties.

“I am a legal officer by profession and I have served in the police force for 20 years. I think that is requisite experience that will see me execute the duties as they have been instructed by His Excellency,” she said.
Ambassador Mlilo also had some words of encouragement for the girl child.

“It takes hard work to leave a mark, where you have been given an opportunity to execute a duty, do it to the best of your ability . . . have a good leader, our President will always recognise where good work is,” she said.
Mrs Mlilo then narrated her career from her early school days, up until she was called from retirement by President Mnangagwa for the diplomatic mission.

“I went to school in Bulawayo, then finished at Queen Elizabeth (in Harare), joined the police force at a very young age, trained as a lawyer and I was already serving in the police force, rose through the ranks in the police force until I was a Commissioner and Director of Legal Services, then I retired to do lecturing and farming. And I was recalled by His Excellency to serve the country,” said the mother of two.