Zenenga lands top United Nations post

Sunday Mail Reporter

United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday appointed Zimbabwean international civil servant Mr Raisedon Zenenga as his new deputy special representative in the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM).

Mr Zenenga succeeded Anita Kiki Gbeho of Ghana.

In statement, the UN said: “Currently serving as deputy special representative of the Secretary-General in Libya, where he also served as assistant Secretary-General and mission coordinator of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) since 2020, Mr Zenenga brings extensive experience in supporting political processes and mediation, managing complex peace operations, and working with Government and other key stakeholders in conflict and post-conflict settings.

“He has over 30 years of experience in the United Nations, including with United Nations missions in Liberia, Libya, Iraq-Kuwait, Sierra Leone, Somalia and South Sudan, as well as at the United Nations headquarters.”

Mr Zenenga has previously served the UN as deputy special representative of the Secretary-General in Somalia and deputy special representative of the Secretary-General with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.

“He also served in other senior roles at the United Nations headquarters supporting peacekeeping operations in Africa. Mr Zenenga began his professional career in his country’s diplomatic service.

“He graduated from the University of Zimbabwe, where he studied public administration and political science,” added the statement.

After graduating at the University of Zimbabwe in 1980 with a Degree in Public Administration and Political Science (first class), he worked for the Government in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he later joined the diplomatic service as an officer representing Zimbabwe at the United Nations in New York.

The Government seconded him to the United Nations where he served in different capacities until his recent appointment.

Mr Zenenga becomes the second Zimbabwean to be assigned to a top UN position this month following the appointment of Zimbabwean lawyer Dr Nyaradzai Gumbonzvanda as deputy executive director for UN Women, a specialised agency of the United Nations that deals with female gender and empowerment issues globally.