admininviting me to be part of the celebrations marking the 66th Anniversary of the United Nations (UN) Day. The UN Day, which is celebrated internationally every year, falls on October 24.
This day is very important, as it coincides with the coming into force of the charter of the United Nations, which clearly spells out the fundamental objectives, purposes and principles of the United Nations Organisation. The human suffering, the devastation of property and environment and the untold suffering that was visited on the world because of the two world wars influenced and inspired the founding purposes and principles of the UN as provided for in the Charter.
The establishment of the UN underlined the critical role of multilateralism, which is based on the realisation of the importance of inter-dependence of the countries and the peoples of the world. It is an acknowledgement that unilateralism by any state no matter how powerful can only lead to disaster and immense human suffering. Zimbabwe is a firm believer in the overwhelming superiority of multilateralism over unilateralism in international relations.
Mr Resident Co-ordinator, as we celebrate this important day, we should also seize the opportunity to make an honest assessment of the journey that we have travelled. We have to look at the successes that have been scored and the challenges that have emerged along the way. This should be a day of soul-searching.
Zimbabwe, is a strong proponent of the UN. However, we can not fail to note that while the world has changed dramatically over the past 66 years, important institutions of the United Nations have remained frozen in the world of 1945. This is why Zimbabwe, Africa and indeed the whole developing world are clamouring for the urgent reform of the United Nations system as a whole. The loudest calls are for the reform of the UN Security Council.
Its decisions under Chapter VII of the charter are binding on all UN member states. Yet its composition and methods of work are extremely opaque and undemocratic. Africa the largest single group at the United Nations, has no representation among the veto-wielding members of the UN Security Council.
Yet a number of small countries in Europe wield the veto in the Security Council. There is absolutely no justification for this injustice. We have noted with great concern how these same countries have consistently abused this important institution to settle bilateral political scores which have no bearing whatsoever to international peace and security. We all recall how in July 2008 they were able, through the use of dubious methods to secure the nine votes required to impose Chapter VII sanctions on Zimbabwe. What crime had Zimbabwe committed? Zimbabwe had, for the first time in her history, produced a hung parliament! Yet, in Europe hung parliaments are the rule rather than the exception.
None of these countries have ever been taken to the UN for punishment under Chapter VII of the UN charter. Zimbabwe is forever grateful to the principled stand taken by China and Russia in casting their double veto. As a result, we are alive today and we are not and have never been a threat to anyone in our region, or continent, let alone international peace and security.
May Russia and China continue to play this very constructive and positive role. Resident Co-ordinator, the situation in Libya represents another gross abuse of the United Nations Security Council.
Resolutions 1973 was passed to protect civilians. But in the hands of NATO and the Western powers it was turned into an instrument of the brutal destruction of lives, property and infrastructure.
The past nine months have witnessed the systematic conquest of Libya by NATO forces culmination in their capture and brutal extra judicial killing of the Libyan Leader, Muammar Gaddafi last week.
The same fate befell his children, colleagues and many Libyans in total violation of international law as provided for under the various statutes of the United Nations. Resident co-ordinator, regime change was never provided for in the UN Security Council Resolution 1973.
The past nine months have demonstrated how a few countries, with their air force in the air and their special forces on the ground can easily treat the Security Council and its Resolutions with utter contempt and render that important organ of the United Nations totally impotent. This is no cause for celebration. Yet, leaders of the western world are celebrating.
However, other important members of the Security Council have protested at the abuse of UNSC Resolution 1973, but they could do nothing to stop the abuse since any effort to do so would have been vetoed by those in NATO who wield the veto.
Hence we say, there is urgent need to reform the UN Security Council to make it more democratic and accountable to the 194 member states who constitute the UN General Assembly. Further the General Assembly needs to be strengthened so that under given circumstances it can override the Security Council. It does not make sense that only nine countries out of the 194 can take a decision that leads to the kind of carnage and destruction that we have witnessed in Libya over the past nine months.
And what is Libya’s crime? It is that God gave it oil. Remember Iraq? What has happened in Libya must stand as an example to all members of the United Nations that Chapter VII resolutions should never be loosely worded to allow a group of greedy countries to destroy a member state for their selfish ends.
Resident Co-ordinator, let me state here that Zimbabwe strongly deplores the fact that Africa was not allowed to facilitate dialogue among the Libyan parties.
Africa’s position and roadmap to peace and stability in Libya was totally ignored. Africa’s position is still as valid today as it was six long months ago. Unless there is dialogue, unless there is reconciliation, unless there is a genuinely all-inclusive government, there will be no peace or stability in Libya. There is a real spectre of Libya degenerating into another Somalia, with the attendant suffering for the Libyan people. Military conquest does not resolve contradictions. Only dialogue and reconciliation do. Mr Resident Co-ordinator, let me now turn to the many good programmes that have been done by the UN system in our country, Zimbabwe. I want to take this opportunity to thank you in person and through you, the UNDP and the UN Agencies in the country for the good working relations between the Government of Zimbabwe and yourselves.
It is a solid relationship based on collectivity and mutual consultation that has seen us covering a lot of ground in addressing issues of development and humanitarian concern. I note with appreciation the several successfully hosted activities held from October 16 to 25 2011 to commemorate the UN Week under the appropriate theme: Sustainable Development Towards Achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
These included, among others, the Youth Sensitisation on Sustainable Development Event with its appropriate theme of protecting the environment, which was held on 20th October 2011 at Churchill High School in Harare. I wish once again to thank the UNDP and UN Agencies for having worked with the Government of Zimbabwe in the formulation of the Zimbabwe-United Nations Development Assistance Framework (ZUNDAF 2012-2015) which will channel development aid and priorities towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.
Through ZUNDAF (2011-2015), the government of Zimbabwe, with the support of the UNDP, has identified the seven national priority areas in order to respond to Zimbabwe’s development needs.
We very much appreciate the UN support to the Government of Zimbabwe as we strive to achieve sustainable development focused on all the three pillars: economic growth, social development and environmental protection. As we struggle to overcome the effects of natural disasters in the form of years of drought and man-made disasters in form of illegal sanctions, which have eroded development gains and thus delaying the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.
We know we can always count on you and the UN agencies which have always been such reliable development partners and allies. The Government of Zimbabwe, which will continue to own and lead the development process, pledges to work closely with the UN Country Team (UNCT) and all those in the international community who wish Zimbabwe well.
The UNDP and the other UN agencies will always do well since they respect the sovereignty of the countries they operate in and also do not interfere in internal political processes. The UN and its agencies always come to complement and not to supplant government priorities and efforts. Mr Resident Co-ordinator, let me on behalf of my Ministry also thank the UNDP for the generous and kind donation of office equipment and consumables which have gone a long way in addressing some of our immediate needs. With these few remarks, let me propose a toast to the excellent co-operation between the UNDP and the Government of Zimbabwe, to the achievement of MDGs by 2015.
Online Reporter