Zimbabwe's Foreign Minister Addresses UNGA 80th Session on Multilateralism and Global Challenges

Multilateralism and UN Reform

• 🌍 Zimbabwe reaffirms its commitment to multilateralism as a guiding principle for its foreign policy, emphasizing sovereignty, equality, and peaceful coexistence.
• 💡 The Minister congratulates the President of the 80th UNGA session and pledges Zimbabwe's support, while also paying tribute to the predecessor for navigating geopolitical tensions.
• 🤝 The 80th anniversary of the UN Charter is seen as a crucial moment to recommit to the UN's principles, especially given current global uncertainties like escalating conflicts and economic slowdowns.
• 🌐 Zimbabwe supports the UN reform initiative, stressing that reforms must strengthen, not diminish, the voice and participation of developing countries and the Global South.

Peace, Security, and Global Governance Reform

• ⚖️ Zimbabwe advocates for the reform of global governance institutions, stating that post-WWII architectures no longer reflect current realities.
• 🌍 Africa's call for comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council, including permanent representation, is reiterated as an urgent necessity.
• 🤝 Cooperation between the Security Council and regional organizations like the African Union is highlighted for addressing conflict root causes.
• 🕊️ Zimbabwe emphasizes inclusive peace processes, contributing to regional conflict resolution, and its commitment to UN peacekeeping missions.
• 🇺🇳 Zimbabwe has put forward its candidature for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2027-2028 term, aiming to contribute to a peaceful world.

Self-Determination and Sustainable Development

• 🇵🇸 Zimbabwe expresses solidarity with the people of Palestine and Western Sahara in their pursuit of self-determination, calling for a lasting peace in the Middle East and the implementation of a two-state solution.
• 🌱 Zimbabwe's national development trajectory is guided by the principle of "leaving no one and no place behind," with consistent GDP growth and reforms in key economic sectors.
• 💧 Climate action is mainstreamed into development planning, focusing on renewable energy, early warning systems, and climate-smart agriculture, with Zimbabwe ready to share its conservation techniques.
• 📈 Zimbabwe reaffirms commitment to the Paris Agreement and calls for enhanced nationally determined contributions, while also supporting action for landlocked developing countries.

Technology, Finance, and Human Rights

• 💻 The transformative role of ICT and AI in development is acknowledged, alongside concerns about their misuse for criminal purposes, supporting frameworks to combat cybercrime.
• 💰 Zimbabwe reiterates support for financing for development commitments and calls for the operationalization of the SDG stimulus, highlighting the need to reform the international financial architecture to benefit developing countries.
• ⚖️ All human rights are upheld as interdependent and indivisible, rejecting selective application and reaffirming support for a legally binding covenant on the right to development.
• 🕊️ Zimbabwe abolished the death penalty in December 2024, reaffirming its commitment to the sanctity of human life.

Sanctions and International Cooperation

• 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe reiterates its call for the unconditional removal of illegal unilateral coercive measures imposed on the country, which hinder its full potential.
• 🇨🇺 Solidarity is expressed with Cuba in its fight against its economic blockade, and December 4th is welcomed as the International Day Against Unilateral Coercive Measures.
• 🤝 The UN is at a crossroads, and the anniversary should be seized to renew a covenant for peace, recommit to development, and strengthen multilateralism for the benefit of all people.