Zimbabwe News Update
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On 31 October 2025 in Harare, more than 250 diplomats, development partners, civil-society leaders and young changemakers gathered to mark 80 years of the United Nations under the theme “Better Together: 80 Years and More for Peace, Development and Human Rights.”
The event blended appeals for renewed multilateralism, international cooperation and justice with calls for inclusion and stronger partnerships, closing on a celebratory note as Feli Nandi and her band turned reflection into a vibrant tribute to eight decades of service to people and the planet.
In a keynote that doubled as tribute and blueprint, Honourable Professor Dr Amnon Murwira, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, said Zimbabwe’s foreign policy is rooted in its Constitution and a people-centred “Doctrine of Foreign Relations and International Trade,” encapsulated by the maxim “A Friend to All and Enemy to None.” He argued that diplomacy should be judged by its tangible benefits to citizens.
Using the UN’s eight-decade history, Honourable Murwira pressed for a UN “match fit” for climate shocks, digital disruption and proliferating conflicts; a reformed, inclusive international financial architecture to close the SDG financing gap; and Security Council reform that gives Africa rightful representation. He urged operationalising the Pact for the Future through finance, technology transfer and predictable partnerships, reiterated Zimbabwe’s support for and commitment to the Paris Agreement and the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities, and called on developed countries to honour climate finance pledges and support concessional finance and derisking instruments.
The Minister set a development agenda tied to national priorities, including trade and investment, technology transfer, climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy, water infrastructure, social protection, and empowerment of women, youth and persons with disabilities — framing these as the practical outcomes diplomacy must deliver.
In a video message on UN Day, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said “We the peoples” is a living promise of the UN Charter and urged unified action, saying now is no time for timidity in addressing crises that no nation can solve alone.
UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Edward Kallon highlighted UN achievements from smallpox eradication to peacekeeping and humanitarian reach, while warning that shrinking resources threaten services. He noted humanitarian appeals and assessed contributions are falling short, putting clinics, rations, education and protection for the most vulnerable at risk.
Mr. Kallon showcased Zimbabwe as a model of UN partnership with 25 UN entities delivering more than half their programmes through joint programmes and joint initiatives, over USD 1.5 billion in combined contributions across four years, blended financing that helped unlock a US$100 million renewable energy fund, and a new cooperation framework (2027–2030) aligned with Zimbabwe’s Second National Development Strategy.
He framed UN80 and the renewal agenda as a push for efficiency and joined-up delivery, stressing that reform needs predictable political will and timely financing from Member States.
Ambassador Per Lindgärde of Sweden described his country as a staunch defender of multilateralism and human rights, invoking Sweden’s diplomatic heritage from Dag Hammarskjöld to current commitments on gender equality and the UN system. Warning that UN Charter principles — sovereign equality, peaceful dispute resolution, and the prohibition of force — are under strain, he urged states to uphold them.
His Excellency Lindgärde advocated for a stronger, fairer Security Council with both new permanent and non-permanent seats, including for African representation. He stressed defending international law and the Charter as a pragmatic necessity for global security. On current crises, he urged robust support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, guaranteed humanitarian access in Gaza, and greater international focus on emergencies such as Sudan.
