Online Reporter
Wallace Ruzvidzo in New York, USA
RESTORING trust in the United Nations (UN) is critical at a time when the world is increasingly drifting towards unilateralism, threatening the founding principles upon which the global body was established, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Professor Amon Murwira has said.
He made the remarks while speaking to Zimpapers and ZBC news crews ahead of President Mnangagwa’s arrival in New York today for the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81), being held under the theme: “Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all.”
Prof Murwira said the theme was particularly relevant given growing concerns about the erosion of multilateralism in international affairs.
“The theme for this year is about restoring our trust, restoring trust is a very important theme, because over the years His Excellency UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has been mourning or bemoaning the loss of multilateralism as a way of managing global peace.
“And the world was fragmenting into unilateralism into two blocks, instead of being one block, which is the United Nations, which is what was envisaged when the United Nations was formed in San Francisco in 1945. So, restoring trust is such an important thing, because once we don’t have trust in the United Nations, it leads to the pulverisation of the international order as we know it,” said Prof Murwira.
He said President Mnangagwa’s participation at the annual gathering was in fulfilment of Zimbabwe’s obligations as a member state of the global organisation.
“His Excellency the President, when coming to New York to the United Nations, is fulfilling a sacrosanct constitutional mandate, because Zimbabwe is one of the 193 countries from the United Nations. Therefore, it becomes very important that His Excellency is coming,” he said.
Prof Murwira said President Mnangagwa had consistently championed a foreign policy anchored on peace, security and constructive international engagement, principles that underpin national development.
The President’s attendance comes months before Zimbabwe assumes its seat as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2027-2028 term after securing 96 percent support from member states.
Prof Murwira said the overwhelming endorsement reflected growing international confidence in Zimbabwe’s leadership and diplomatic standing.
“So, the United Nations is particularly that organisation that stands for peace and security, which exactly explains why His Excellency President made sure that we campaigned and we were trusted by the world to be in the Security Council. Now we have proven to the world that the world is behind Zimbabwe. So, it is very important for His Excellency to be here and is here with wind beneath his wings, showing that Zimbabwe is part and parcel of the global community,” he said.
The minister said the UN must evolve to reflect contemporary global realities and become more representative of its entire membership.
“A United Nations that works for all is a United Nations that does not reflect 1945, but reflects 2026. And in 2026, there are 193 states that are members of the United Nations, in 1945 most of the world, including Zimbabwe, were colonies and there were some countries that were put in to represent us.
“But you know we are 46 years old as an independent sovereign state, and therefore we need equal treatment within the United Nations. For us to restore trust in the United Nations, it has to be representative of all the people of the world,” he said.
Tomorrow, President Mnangagwa is expected to attend the high-level Zimbabwe Business Forum, organised by ZimTrade, the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) and the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) under the theme: “Global Challenges. Zimbabwean Solutions. Shared Prosperity.”
The forum seeks to unlock financing opportunities in key sectors such as agriculture, mining and tourism while showcasing Zimbabwe’s investment potential.
It will bring together local firms, international buyers, investors, financiers and development partners as the country intensifies efforts to expand export markets, attract foreign direct investment and strengthen commercial partnerships.
During the week, President Mnangagwa and other world leaders will participate in a series of high-level meetings covering a range of global issues.
The discussions will focus on the Right to Development, Climate Action and the Just Transition, existential threats posed by sea-level rise, pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, the adoption of the
Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, as well as the commemoration and promotion of the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.
