ZIMBABWE is intensifying its campaign to secure a seat on the United Nations (UN) Security Council, positioning itself for a significant international role.
This ambition was revealed by Foreign Affairs and International Trade minister Frederick Shava during the 248th United States Independence Day celebrations in Harare yesterday.
With the backing of the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) and growing support within the UN, Shava said they were confident in Zimbabwe’s bid to take a seat on the council for the 2027-2028 term.
“We are campaigning for Zimbabwe to be part of the council come 2027-2028,” he said.
“We have started in Sadc and they are in support and we have taken it to the UN and they are in support.”
In response, US Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Pamela Tremont, voiced strong support for reforming the Security Council, particularly to include permanent African representation.
“US is strongly in favour of Security Council reform reserving two permanent seats for Africa and we leave it to Africa on how they will fill those seats,” she said.
“We hope human rights can be respected as they are in the constitution.”
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Tremont said the US had provided over US$5 billion in health, development, and humanitarian assistance.
This substantial investment, she said, has been a critical lifeline for millions of Zimbabweans.
“This assistance translates into saved lives and supported communities,” she stated, acknowledging the critical role of the US private sector in enhancing economic growth and job creation within Zimbabwe.
Tremont noted that trade between the two nations saw a remarkable 20% growth in 2023, further strengthening ties between the US and Zimbabwe.
She encouraged both countries to continue working together to promote democracy and justice.
On a more contentious note, Shava expressed disappointment over the continued inclusion of Zimbabwean leaders in the Global Magnitsky Sanctions Programme.
“While we have duly noted the termination of the Zimbabwe sanctions programme under the US Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, we believe that the inclusion of the country’s executive on the Global Magnitsky Sanctions Programme undermines the intended gains of the transition, as Brand Zimbabwe, remains tainted,” he said.
“We, therefore, call for the unconditional removal of all the measures imposed on Zimbabwe and its executive.”
