Vusumuzi Dube
Under the leadership of President Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe has executed a decisive and successful pivot in its foreign policy, moving from isolation to active, respected international engagement.
The current participation at the World Governments Summit in Dubai is not a singular event, but a milestone in a consistent strategy of the Second Republic: to engage the world pragmatically, peacefully, and with something tangible to offer. This doctrine of “friendship to all and enmity to none” is yielding concrete dividends for national development.
The optics in Dubai tell a powerful story. President Mnangagwa, alongside a targeted delegation of key ministers, is not merely attending as a spectator. He is a participant in shaping the global conversation on future Governments, sitting alongside over 40 world leaders. More significantly, his ministers are strategically deployed to advance specific national interests — Finance on investment, ICT on Artificial
Intelligence, Agriculture on sustainability and Tourism on sector growth. This demonstrates a move beyond symbolic diplomacy to functional, interest-driven statecraft. This success is rooted in a clear philosophical shift. The Second Republic replaced a posture of defiance with one of confident re-engagement. As articulated by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Professor Amon Murwira, Zimbabwe now engages the world in a “win-win kind of situation,” pursuing its interests through peaceful exchange — commercial, technical and social. This approach has opened doors that were once firmly shut. High-level visits and bilateral agreements, once rare, have become commonplace, signalling a normalisation of diplomatic relations across continents, from Africa to Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
The crowning achievement of this foreign policy, and a direct testament to the governance reforms recognised abroad, is the prestigious “Best Minister in the World” award conferred upon our Minister of Agriculture, Dr Anxious Masuka, at the 2025 summit. This was not a random accolade. It was a global endorsement of the impactful, data-driven policies of the Second Republic, particularly the Pfumvudza/Intwasa climate-proofed agriculture program.
Furthermore, this foreign policy is intrinsically linked to domestic economic priorities. Each bilateral meeting, each summit panel, is leveraged to attract investment, secure technology transfer, and forge partnerships that support the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1). The presence of the Ministers of
Finance and Investment Promotion at such forums is a direct line to international capital and expertise. The engagement on AI and future technologies is a forward-looking move to ensure Zimbabwe is not left behind in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Critics may question the focus on international forums while domestic challenges persist. However, this view misunderstands the strategy. The Second Republic correctly identifies that international partnerships, investment, and knowledge often fuel sustainable domestic solutions. You cannot rebuild an economy in a vacuum. The confidence to attract major investment in energy, mining, and infrastructure is directly proportional to the country’s standing on the global stage.
The World Governments Summit is a mirror, reflecting a Zimbabwe that is confidently reclaiming its place as a sovereign member of the community of nations. Under President Mnangagwa’s leadership, we have moved from being a topic of discussion to being an active discussant, from being a recipient of resolutions to a shaper of agendas.
Bongani Moyo
Online Reporter