Online Reporter
PRESIDENT MNANGAGWA arrived in New York, US, yesterday for the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. Under the Second Republic, Zimbabwe is taking its pride of place on the global stage as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security (UNSC). Our reporter WALLACE RUZVIDZO spoke to Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister PROFESSOR AMON MURWIRA in New York last week about what to expect during Zimbabwe’s engagements this week.
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Q: Minister, may you start by telling us what makes President Mnangagwa’s participation at the United Nations General Assembly important for Zimbabwe and what foreign policy agenda is he taking to New York?
A: It is important to refer to Section 12, Subsection 2 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, which directs Zimbabwe to be Pan-African and to belong to organisations that stand for peace, human dignity and progress. The United Nations is such a body. Therefore, His Excellency the President, by coming to New York, is fulfilling a sacrosanct constitutional mandate as Zimbabwe is one of the 193 member states of the United Nations. His Excellency, President Dr ED Mnangagwa, has set out a progressive foreign policy anchored on peace and security across the world. This is the pillar upon which other areas — the economy, tourism, trade, education, science and technology, as well as social issues — rest.
The United Nations is particularly concerned with peace and security, which explains why His Excellency made sure that Zimbabwe campaigned to be trusted by the world to serve on the Security Council.
Q: This year’s theme emphasises restoring trust and transforming the United Nations. What does that mean for Zimbabwe and Africa, particularly in the context of calls for a more representative global body?
A: Restoring trust is very important because, over the years, His Excellency António Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, has been bemoaning the loss of multilateralism as a way of managing global peace.
The world has been fragmenting into unilateralism and blocs instead of working through one multilateral system, as envisaged when the United Nations was formed in San Francisco in 1945.
Once we lose trust in the United Nations, it leads to the pulverisation of the international order as we know it. Transformation is equally important, particularly for Africa. The United Nations must represent all. A United Nations that works for all should not reflect the realities of 1945, but those of 2026. In 1945, most of the world, including Zimbabwe, were colonies.
Today, we have 193 sovereign member states. Zimbabwe has been independent for 46 years and therefore needs equal treatment within the United Nations.
For us to restore trust, the United Nations has to be representative of all the people of the world.
His Excellency is coming at a time when Zimbabwe has been overwhelmingly endorsed to serve on the Security Council, with 182 of the 190 countries eligible to vote supporting Zimbabwe — about 96 percent. In 2017, when His Excellency was sworn in, one of his main objectives was to integrate Zimbabwe into the global community and the global economy. The doctrine guiding that process was that Zimbabwe is a “friend to all and an enemy to none”.
The June 3, 2026 vote demonstrated the extent of international support for Zimbabwe. His Excellency’s foreign policy has therefore helped pull Zimbabwe out of the so-called isolation. It is important for His Excellency to be here because he is demonstrating that Zimbabwe is part and parcel of the global community.
Q: Beyond the General Assembly debates, what does President Mnangagwa’s programme in New York entail, and what message will Zimbabwe take to the international business community and the Security Council?
A: His Excellency is going to preside over the Zimbabwe Business Forum, organised by ZimTrade, the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority and ZIDA (Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency). This is part of our “friend to all and enemy to none” doctrine and the “Zimbabwe is open for business” thrust.
We are integrating Zimbabwe into the global economy, and such an event is important in that regard. His Excellency will also participate with other Heads of State and Government in presenting positions to the General Assembly. He is scheduled to make his statement on September 24 at 9am and will be the first speaker.
His message is always one of peace — that together we can make the world a better place. But peace requires a fair world where every country feels represented.
That is why reform of the United Nations is important.
Zimbabwe, as a member of the Security Council, will push for a more representative (Security) Council. There are currently 15 member states, while Africa has no veto power.
Africa is calling for two permanent seats on the Security Council based on the Ezulwini Consensus. Africa, in principle, does not support the veto because it wants a democratised United Nations.
However, if the veto remains, Africa says it must also have it. Zimbabwe will also push the agenda of justice across the world because justice breeds peace and peace provides the foundation for international development.
Q: What global challenges will dominate this year’s General Assembly, and how does Zimbabwe intend to contribute to those debates while presenting its own economic progress?
A: One of the major issues will be health and pandemics.
The experience of 2020 showed that if the world does not work together on pandemics, we are going to be in trouble. Climate change and sea-level rise will also be discussed. His Excellency will give his input on behalf of the people of Zimbabwe, and we are proud that he is coming at a time when the economy has stabilised.
Inflation is below 3 percent, which is one digit and the first in 30 years. GDP has grown from about US$16 billion in 2017 to US$66 billion, while GDP per capita has increased from about US$1 200 to US$3 500. We are looking forward to US$4 500, which represents an upper middle-income economy.
Through the trade template established under his foreign policy, our trade figures have also grown from about US$2 billion in 2017 to US$20 billion today. Zimbabwe is, therefore, coming in a position of contribution and, as a forward-looking country, ready to contribute to global peace and security, the economy, trade, science and technology, and a world where people share.
Q: From Zimbabwe’s perspective, what principles should guide the international order, and how does the country define its priorities on sovereign equality, peace and security?
A: I speak on behalf of Zimbabwe and His Excellency the President. We know what Zimbabwe thinks. Zimbabwe believes this world has to be fair and representative, with countries adequately represented according to their positions.
Our Constitution, under Section 12, calls for peaceful co-existence and sovereign equality among nations. We believe that is a sound principle. Zimbabwe’s aim, within the broader African position, is to silence the guns because the Security Council is fundamentally about peace and security.
Once we have peace and security, countries can trade and meet basic human needs. All countries subscribing to the United Nations Charter should uphold sovereign equality because that is what the Charter provides for. We believe in trade as a means of exchanging goods and services.
We do not want to exchange bullets; we want to exchange goods and services. That is why Zimbabwe believes it is important to serve on the United Nations Security Council as a non-permanent member.
Q: As we conclude, what role does Zimbabwe intend to play as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, and what does the country hope to contribute to the wider international agenda?
A: We will contribute, to the best of our ability, to the peace and security foundation of the world, upon which the pillars of the economy, social cohesion and trade can develop peacefully.
