Zimbabwe’s UN Security Council bid gains traction as Prof Murwiwra wraps pacific tour

Zimbabwe’s UN Security Council bid gains traction as Prof Murwiwra wraps pacific tour

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa’s special envoy to the Pacific region, Professor Amon Murwira, has concluded his campaign tour with Fiji, marking the final leg of a diplomatic mission aimed at securing support for Zimbabwe’s bid for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.

The outreach covered key Small Island Developing States including Tonga, Solomon Islands and Fiji.

In Fiji, Professor Murwira met the Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Honourable Lenora Qereqeretabua and delivered President Mnangagwa’s request for Zimbabwe’s support.

“As you know, His Excellency President Mnangagwa sent me to the Pacific region as his special envoy. Basically, the issue is to canvass for our vote for the non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council in a vote that is going to take place on June 3. As part of our outreach to small island developing states, His Excellency thought that it was very prudent for us to undertake this outreach. Today we have been to Fiji, after having been to Tonga and the Solomon Islands. Our strength in this bid is that Zimbabwe respects the sovereign equality of nations.”

“We are 193 of them. There is no small or big state. By coming here, His Excellency is demonstrating the principle that we have sovereign equality of states and that every state matters. So far, our visit has been very successful. We were very well received and have felt strong support. We are humbled that this mission has been successful, and I am confident that we have conveyed His Excellency President Mnangagwa’s message effectively to this region,” Professor Murwira said.

Zimbabwe is a member of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, which brings together countries from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific, reinforcing shared interests among developing nations.

Professor Murwira also paid a courtesy call on the Pacific Islands Forum Acting Secretary General, Desna Solofa, where Zimbabwe’s position on multilateral cooperation and climate action was outlined.

“Southern Africa and the Pacific face the common challenge of climate change. In our region, it is droughts; here, it is sea level rise. But it is the same problem. Zimbabwe is campaigning on sustainability and climate change, and we will champion collective action when elected to the United Nations Security Council.”

The Acting Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum agreed to convey Zimbabwe’s message to member states in support of Harare’s bid.