Online Reporter
Wallace Ruzvidzo
PALESTINE has thrown its weight behind Zimbabwe’s bid for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), joining a growing list of countries that are supporting Harare’s candidature.
Japan, China, Russia, India, Cuba and Venezuela, as well as SADC and the African Union, have already pledged their support.
Zimbabwe’s campaign, launched in Harare by President Mnangagwa a fortnight ago and on the sidelines of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) this week, will run under the theme “Advancing 21st Century Solutions for Global Peace and Security through Multilateralism”.
Elections for the seat set are expected to be held in June next year.
In an interview, Palestinian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Dr Tamer Almassri expressed support of Harare’s candidature.
“You know that Palestine supports Zimbabwe all the time and we are totally against the illegal sanctions; we support Zimbabwe’s bid for a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) because it will represent us and it will represent all the oppressed people, besides representing all Africans,” he said.
Zimbabwe, Ambassador Almassri said, has supported Palestine over the years, hence it was only right that the support is reciprocated.
Under the Second Republic, he added, Palestine has always been guaranteed of Harare’s backing.
“We highly appreciate the good and the strong support that we received from His Excellency Cde Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa.
“When he meets any Palestinian delegation, any Palestinian official, he tells them in a frank and open way, ‘you can count on us’. Plus, President Mnangagwa was the first African President who gave instructions in the early months of the Israeli genocide to help feed Palestinian victims in the Gaza Strip,” he said.
“We understand the situation of Zimbabwe under sanctions, but in spite of that, this initiative was very great …”
Palestine is now recognised as a sovereign state by more than 81 percent of United Nations (UN) member states, France, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Andorra and Belgium.
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