Harare, (New Ziana) – Zimbabwe’s ambassador designate to Russia, Mark Marongwe, on Wednesday bade farewell to President Emmerson Mnangagwa at State House.

Speaking to journalists after a closed door meeting with President Mnangagwa, ambassador Marongwe said he was going to help in cementing the already good relations between Russia and Zimbabwe.

“As you are aware the duty of the ambassador is to ensure that there are good relations between the sending country and the receiving country. “The Russian Federation is one of our strong allies in global affairs, so I feel honoured to be appointed to serve Zimbabwe in the capacity of ambassador,” he said.

Ambassador designate Marongwe said the appointment is not his first assignment in Government as he had experience spanning over 30 years in the civil service in various capacities.

Ambassador designate Marongwe, whose war-time name was Grey Tichatonga, said the name was prophetic in that during the armed struggle there was the belief that the sacrifices of liberation fighters would lead to freedom.

“Well, you know during the struggle we always had this orientation that you must believe that the sacrifice would lead to freedom, whether you would be alive or would die during the course (of the war), so the name Tichatonga arose from that kind of thinking,” he said.

Ambassador Marongwe once worked for the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, and also held many diplomatic posts, including in the US, Mozambique, Kuwait and Congo. He was also permanent secretary in the Ministry of Defence and War Veterans’ Affairs.

Ambassador Marongwe said he would be leaving for Russia soon. “Yes, I got my marching orders, so I can’t be seen walking around the streets of Harare having been given an assignment,” he said.

New Ziana