Online Reporter
Farirai Machivenyika-Senior Reporter
THE appointment of Senate President Cde Mabel Chinomona and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Cde Tsitsi Gezi to senior positions within the African Parliamentary Union is evidence of the country’s growing influence on the continent and success of its diplomacy.
This was stated by the Parliament of Zimbabwe in a statement yesterday following the appointments of Cdes Chinomona and Gezi as Vice Chairperson of the Executive Committee and Southern Africa Regional Representative at the APU, respectively, during the 84th Session of the Executive Committee and the 47th Conference of the APU held in Kinshasa, DRC, last week.
“Congratulations on the remarkable achievements of Honourable Mabel Chinomona, President of the Senate, who was appointed Vice Chairperson of the Executive Committee, and Honourable Tsitsi Gezi, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, who was appointed Southern Africa Regional Representative at the APU.
Their appointments to these key positions are a testament to Zimbabwe’s growing influence in regional and continental parliamentary cooperation. Their leadership will undoubtedly strengthen Zimbabwe’s parliamentary diplomacy and reinforce the nation’s commitment to advancing African unity, development, and collaboration. Well done to the entire Zimbabwean delegation for representing the nation with excellence,” reads part of the statement.
The appointment of the two follows a growing trend of the country’s nationals being appointed to senior leadership positions in various international organisations. The Deputy President of Zimbabwe’s Chiefs Council, Chief Fortune Charumbira, is the current President of the Pan African Parliament, while the country has also received widespread support for its bid to become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the period 2027-2028.
Zimbabwe’s diplomatic successes have been anchored in President Mnangagwa’s foreign policy mantra of the country being a friend to all and an enemy to none.
