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In his address to the General Assembly on Tuesday, US president Barack Obama made an impassioned address about the death of the US envoy, a refrain that was picked by many speakers drawn from the western block.
President Mugabe who took the podium on Wednesday, reminded Mr Obama that his country was a member of the same Nato that had killed Colonel Gaddafi, and slammed the US and its allies for practising double standards in mourning Stevens condemning his killing while remaining mum on Gaddafi.
President Mugabe reiterated the global concern in his address on Wednesday, calling for the reform and realignment of the UN, its specialised agencies, and international financial institutions in line with global challenges and contemporary realities.
These agencies, President Mugabe said, are the only instruments available for responding effectively to the global challenges the world faces.
He reiterated Zimbabwe’s support for ongoing inter-governmental negotiations on the reform and expansion of the Security Council, and cautioned against an open-ended approach that shortchanges countries that are not represented on the Security Council.
Zimbabwe, he said, stood by Africa’s demand for two permanent seats complete with a veto, if the veto is to be retained, plus two additional non-permanent seats, as clearly articulated in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration.
He said Africa will not be bought off with empty promises, not cosmetic tinkering disguised as reform of the Security Council.
The President decried the foisting of unacceptable concepts on UN member states without inter-governmental mandates.
He cited the abuse of the concept of responsibility to protect in the absence of agreement on the circumstances under which it might be evoked, a development that he said compromised and undermined the cardinal principles of state sovereignty, territorial integrity and non interference in the domestic affairs of member states.
President Mugabe urged member states to take stock of the inspiring preamble of the UN Charter in the wake of the radical departure from its noble and solemn declarations.
He called on the Security Council, which is still dominated by the five victorious allies of the Second Anglo-Saxon War, to respect and support the decisions, processes and priorities of regional organisation.
He condemned the illegal economic sanctions regime that the United States, the European Union and their allies imposed on Zimbabwe in the wake of a bilateral dispute between Harare and London and reminded Washington and Brussels that there was international consensus, fully backed by Sadc, the AU, Comesa, the Non-Aligned Movement and the progressive world that the sanctions must be promptly and unconditionally lifted.
Before his address, President Mugabe held bilateral meetings with Presidents Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia, Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea, and Michael Sata of Zambia.
Details of the meetings were not released to the Press.
Online Reporter