adminsecurity personnel in all their peacekeeping missions in the world.
Speaking during the launch of the International Day of United Nations peacekeepers in Harare on Thursday, Minister Mnangagwa said the continued invitation of the country’s security personnel to the UN was testimony of the confidence and trust the body had in them.
He paid tribute to the security forces for continuing to raise the country’s flag high on different missions in countries such as Angola, Somalia, East Timor, the Darfur region in Sudan, Liberia, Burundi and the Ivory Coast.
“As expected, we have positively responded to the UN requests and deployed observers to those countries, where they conducted themselves in their usual professional manner and undertook their responsibilities with unquestionable zeal much to the envy of many.
“It is pertinent that the conduct of these missions have been commendable and professional, a fact that has been acknowledged by the UN itself,” he said.
This year’s commemorations will be held in Mashonaland Central Province on May 29 under the theme, “The rule of law.”
Minister Mnangagwa said the theme was suggestive that the rule of law in peacekeeping was the legal and political framework under which all persons and institutions including the state were accountable.
“It seeks to establish systems of justice and reinforcing security through disarmament, demobilisation and the re-integration of ex-combatants and helping in dealing with minefields and unexploded ordinance that remain following armed struggles,” he said.
He said the commemorations would also highlight and celebrate works and achievements made by the UN peacekeeping missions since the world body’s inception in 1948.
The commemorations, the minister said, gave Zimbabwe an opportunity to showcase its contribution and achievements under the UN peacekeeping banner.
The UN and its stakeholders will also reflect on challenges encountered during previous missions.
Minister Mnangagwa said there was need for key reforms in the UN Security Council for Third World countries’ voices to be heard.
“The Security Council has been dominated by Western countries for long, that’s why NAM and other regional blocs have for the last years called for its reform to have adequate representation.
“We still have a world body that is unfair in terms of arriving at solutions affecting different regions,” he said.
Zimbabwe joined UN peacekeeping missions in 1991 after being requested to contribute peacekeeping troops in Angola.
The Zimbabwe Prison Services has also joined.
“The operations of prison officers in missions include establishing a transparent prison system that incarcerates offenders in safe, humane and secure conditions,” Minister Mnangagwa said.
He said educational campaigns would continue with officers visiting schools in Bindura to impart knowledge to the students about the role of the security forces.
Online Reporter