President Emmerson Mnangagwa has taken a delegation of 238 individuals to the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, according to organizers of the global summit. This group includes official government representatives, as well as 44 individuals listed under an “Overflow” category, who are attending at their own cost.
In comparison to other countries, Zimbabwe’s delegation size appears notably large. For instance, South Africa, with a population of 60 million, is sending 51 delegates, while France is sending 63, Mozambique 78, and Botswana 39.
Reports indicate that the Zimbabwean government is covering a daily allowance of US$1,000 per delegate for the five-day conference, which totals an estimated US$1.2 million in expenses for the delegation alone.
Additionally, concerns have been raised about the President’s travel arrangements. Mnangagwa flew to Baku on a private Boeing 737-700 BBJ, chartered from Royal Jet Services in Dubai at a cost of US$12,700 per hour. The aircraft, configured with 34 seats, including 8 VIP, 8 business class, and 18 standard seats, also features a bedroom. The round-trip flight between Harare and Baku, which took 18 hours, is reported to have cost the Zimbabwean government over US$200,000, with additional costs for the return leg between Dubai and Harare.
The total cost for the five-day COP29 trip, which includes commercial flights for many delegates, is expected to exceed US$2 million. This comes at a time when Zimbabwe is facing its worst drought in four decades, with over half of the population in urgent need of food assistance, sparking criticism of the government’s spending priorities.
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