Online Reporter
Wallace Ruzvidzo, Zimpapers Writer
JAPAN has thrown its weight behind Zimbabwe’s bid for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2027–2028 term, becoming the latest country to endorse Harare’s candidature.
The backing from Tokyo adds weight to a campaign that has already drawn firm commitments from China, Russia, India, Cuba, Palestine, as well as regional and continental blocs such as SADC and the African Union.
The pledge was conveyed by Japan’s Speaker of Parliament, Mr Fukushiro Nukaga to his Zimbabwean counterpart, Advocate Jacob Mudenda, who is in Japan on a bilateral visit as part of the legislature’s parliamentary diplomacy.
In a statement released yesterday, the Parliament of Zimbabwe said Speaker Nukaga had expressed Japan’s “unambiguous support” for Zimbabwe’s candidature.
“In a show of confidence in Zimbabwe and an epitome of the visit, the host Speaker expressed unambiguous support for Zimbabwe’s bid for the non-permanent seat in line with the Japanese Government’s position on the same,” reads the statement.
“Speaker Nukaga advised Advocate Mudenda that the Japanese Foreign Ministry had pledged the country’s unequivocal support for Zimbabwe in this auspicious endeavour.
“Fundamentally, this position bodes well with the national aspiration and foreign policy as espoused by the President, His Excellency, Dr ED Mnangagwa, that Zimbabwe is a friend to all and an enemy to none and that the country is willing to contribute to global peace on the basis of multilateralism and International law.”
President Mnangagwa launched Zimbabwe’s campaign for the UNSC seat this month.
Zimbabwe has previously served twice on the Security Council as a non-permanent member, during 1983-1984 and 1991-1992.
Securing the 2027–2028 seat would mark the country’s third tenure.
Adv Mudenda’s visit also saw the two Speakers reaffirm their commitment to strengthening parliamentary diplomacy.
They agreed to establish a Zimbabwe-Japan Parliamentary Friendship Association, which will facilitate exchanges and co-operation between the two legislatures.
Adv Mudenda noted that Zimbabwe was keen to learn from Japan’s experiences, particularly in digitising parliamentary processes and improving legislative efficiency.
Apart from parliamentary collaboration, the speakers underscored the importance of expanding economic ties and fostering people-to-people exchanges.
They pointed to tourism, cultural co-operation and participation in international platforms as key avenues for deepening relations.
Zimbabwe’s participation in Expo 2025 Osaka and President Mnangagwa’s attendance at both the Expo and the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (Ticad 9) were cited as important milestones.
“Speaker Nukaga opined that such exchanges enhance people-to-people relations and must accordingly be extolled.
“In concurring with the host speaker, Speaker Mudenda highlighted that the high-level visits underpinned Zimbabwe’s commitment to accentuating its relations with Japan,” reads the statement.
To cap the visit, Adv Mudenda extended an invitation to Speaker Nukaga to make a reciprocal visit to Zimbabwe, an invitation which was accepted.
Colletta Dube