daniel chigunwe
Wallace Ruzvidzo
Herald Reporter
SENEGAL supports Zimbabwe’s regional and continental leadership and is throwing its weight behind Zimbabwe’s bid for a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the period 2027-2028, Senegalese special envoy Ms Yassine Fall has said.
The special envoy, who also serves as Senegal’s Minister of African Integration and Foreign Affairs, together with Mr Amadou Hott, who is seeking the presidency of the African Development Bank (AfDB), yesterday paid a courtesy call on President Mnangagwa at State House in Harare.
Ms Fall said they were in the country to relay a message of Senegal’s support of Zimbabwe’s bid to the President, as well as pass salutations from his “brother” and counterpart, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
“I came here today to meet His Excellency Mr President, to present warm greetings from his brother, His Excellency President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal.
“Senegal has been a very big supporter of Zimbabwe all along and has today very much supported Zimbabwe, even in its effort now to be in the Security Council at the United Nations.
“So, we came here to greet the President, to bring him messages of solidarity, messages of greeting,” she said.
There are 10 rotating non-permanent members on the UNSC, along with the five permanent members taken by the US, UK, France, China and Russia.
The top table at the UN determines how the organisation responds to conflicts around the world.
To win a seat, Zimbabwe needs to secure the support of at least two thirds of the General Assembly delegations that are voting.
Sadc, Russia, India and Cuba, among others, have already thrown their weight behind Zimbabwe’s bid.
Ms Fall said she had also been sent by President Faye to tell President Mnangagwa of Senegal’s appreciation of his leadership on the continent and the West African country’s intent to upscale relations with Zimbabwe.
President Mnangagwa is the current Sadc Chairperson.
“ . . . (and to) express also his (President Faye) gratitude for his (President Mnangagwa) leadership in Africa and for both of our leaders’ intention to strengthen the relationship (between Senegal and Zimbabwe) . . . diplomatic relationship and economic relationship,” she said.
During their closed-door meeting, the special envoy said they had discussed Africa’s development agenda towards the realisation of continental goals, particularly Agenda 2063.
Agenda 2063 is Africa’s blueprint and masterplan for transforming Africa into the global powerhouse of the future.
It is the continent’s strategic framework that aims to deliver on its goal for inclusive and sustainable development and is a concrete manifestation of the pan-African drive for unity, self-determination, freedom, progress and collective prosperity pursued under Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance.
“As you know, we are also in a process of pushing Africa’s development, Agenda 2063, and we need strong institutions in Africa.
“And this is also why we came here to discuss with the President,” she said.
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