Source: UNSC seat bid: Harare ups the ante – herald Wallace Ruzvidzo Herald Reporter PRESIDENT Mnangagwa is today scheduled to meet an eight-member delegation of permanent representatives to the United Nations, which is in Zimbabwe for a high-level familiarisation tour as the country ramps up its campaign for election as a non-permanent member of the […]
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa is today scheduled to meet an eight-member delegation of permanent representatives to the United Nations, which is in Zimbabwe for a high-level familiarisation tour as the country ramps up its campaign for election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the term 2027-2028.
Before paying a courtesy call on the President today, the delegation, which arrived in the country just after midnight yesterday, visited the National Heroes Acre, the Sadc Regional Peacekeeping Training Centre and undertook a lecture at the Zimbabwe National Defence University before meeting Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Professor Amon Murwira.
In his remarks at the meeting, Prof Murwira confirmed today’s courtesy call on the President who was looking forward to meeting them.
The UN delegation comprises Mr Lewis Brown II, UN Permanent Representative to Liberia; Ambassador Odo Tevi from Vanuatu, Ambassador Neil Parsan from Trinidad and Tobago; Mr Stefan Pretterhofer from Austria; Mr Jorge Eduardo from Portugal; Mr Mohamed Rabi Yusuf from Somalia; Mr Taniela Kepa Siose from Tuvalu and Ms Corina Moroi from Moldova.
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Professor Amon Murwira (fourth from left) with a United Nations Permanent Representatives delegation which paid a courtesy call on him at his Munhumutapa Offices in Harare yesterday. – Picture Charles Muchakagara
Prof Murwira highlighted that Zimbabwe has always been “a child of the United Nations”, underscoring Harare’s commitment to the world body.
“So, we want to highlight that Zimbabwe has always been an advocate, a child of the United Nations, a child of international solidarity, and we have been active a lot in peacekeeping operations, including our contributions to the mission in Angola, the mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in Somalia, in Sierra Leone, in Liberia, in Sudan, in South Sudan . . . ,” he said.
The Foreign Affairs Minister said Zimbabwe had previously served in the UN Security Council and remained committed to its values and dictates.
“We previously, of course, as you know, that Zimbabwe served in the Security Council from 1983 to 1984, and our last term was from 1991 to 1992, which is more than 30 years ago.
“And we are ready to take this responsibility with a renewed commitment, with a renewed experience. The first one we took when we were three years old as a nation. The other one we took when we were a teenager, not even a teenager yet. We were 12 or 11 years old,” he said.
Minister Murwira said Zimbabwe now had a clearer focus on international peace and cooperation, 46 years after attaining independence from colonial rule.
Zimbabwe had been able to live in sustained peace since independence, showing its sovereign maturity.
“We have been able to maintain a very peaceful environment and contribute to the peace within our sub-region and to the world at large.
“We believe that our belief in the United Nations Charter, our belief even according to our Constitution, Chapter 4 of our Constitution directs us that we should contribute to international peace and security, that we should promote international co-existence and that we should promote peaceful resolution of international disputes.
“And as Zimbabweans, we have lived this spirit because we believe that together we make a better world. And in that Section 4 of the Constitution, Subsection 2, it says we must belong to all international organisations that stand for peace and dignity of humanity and the primary organisation that does so is the United Nations,” said the Foreign Minister.
The team of UN representatives is on a five-day familiarisation tour, which will see it visiting other places and attractions across the country, including the world-famous Victoria Falls.
