Zim committed to UN peacekeeping missions

Columbus Mabika Herald Reporter

The Government has pledged to continue supporting United Nations peacekeeping missions through the provision of manpower, Minister of Defence, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri has said.

She said this yesterday in a speech read on her behalf by her deputy, Brigadier-General (Retired) Levi Mayihlome during United Nations peacekeeping ministerial meetings in Accra, Ghana.

Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said the support would entail providing military observers, police and correctional officers.

Zimbabwe would also support pre-deployment training, including preventing sexual exploitation and abuse.

Efforts would also be made to meet gender parity targets and increase leadership roles for women peacekeepers.

“Zimbabwe is committed to promoting the active involvement of women in international peace initiatives. Our Government places importance on the participation of women in all spheres of our economy and in all pillars of Government, including peace and security,” she said.

Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said this was in line with the enactment of a number of laws which promote gender balance and women empowerment.

This comes as the United Nations is currently at the forefront of calling for the inclusion of women at all levels of its activities.

Strategies for addressing barriers to women participation in peacekeeping, she said, were now in place through the Secretary General’s Uniformed Gender Parity Strategy.

Zimbabwe has a long history of participating in United Nations peacekeeping missions on the African continent and beyond.

“Currently Zimbabwe has 78 uniformed forces deployed in different United Nations peacekeeping missions in various capacities.

“The Zimbabwe Government has adhered to and surpassed the Secretary General’s Uniformed Gender Parity Strategy guidelines.

“Of the 78 Zimbabwean uniformed peacekeepers currently deployed in United Nations Missions, 70 percent are female, thus surpassing by far, the gender parity strategy guidelines that require that 50 percent of deployed officers be female,” said Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri.

She emphasised that Zimbabwe would continue to play its part in United Nations peacekeeping operations in line with its desire to contribute to global peace and security.