New York – Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has arrived in New York ahead of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, where he is expected to represent Zimbabwe during the high level General Debate and take part in engagements aimed at advancing the country’s diplomatic and economic interests.
Mnangagwa travelled from Harare on Friday evening and arrived in New York, where he was received by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Professor Amon Murwira, Zimbabwe’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Tawonga Mushayavanhu and embassy staff.
He was seen off at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport by Vice President General Constantino Chiwenga, Government ministers, senior officials and service chiefs.
The 81st session of the UN General Assembly is being held under the theme “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations That Delivers for All.” The session began on 8 September 2026, with the high level General Debate scheduled to bring together heads of state and government for discussions on major international issues.
Mnangagwa is scheduled to address the General Assembly on Thursday, 24 September, as Zimbabwe joins other member states in discussions on global peace, security, development and international cooperation.
His participation comes as Zimbabwe prepares to take up a non permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2027 to 2028 term. The country secured 182 votes out of 190 during the election, representing 96 percent support.
Alongside the diplomatic programme, Zimbabwe is using the UNGA platform to promote investment and expand commercial partnerships.
Mnangagwa is scheduled to attend the high level Zimbabwe Business Forum, organised on the sidelines of the General Assembly by ZimTrade, the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency and the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority.
The forum will be held under the theme “Global Challenges. Zimbabwean Solutions. Shared Prosperity” and is expected to bring together Zimbabwean businesses, international buyers, investors, financiers and development partners.
The meeting is intended to promote investment opportunities in agriculture, mining and tourism, while also creating opportunities to expand export markets and strengthen commercial relationships.
Zimbabwe’s participation at UNGA 81 comes amid changes in the country’s international economic classification. From July 2026, the World Bank introduced a revised framework that replaced its previous single Fragile and Conflict Affected Situations list with separate Public Fragility, Conflict and Violence and Institutional Fragility lists. Zimbabwe does not appear on either of the new FY2027 lists.
The Zimbabwean Government has linked these developments to its broader diplomatic and economic engagement, including its stated foreign policy position of being a “friend to all and an enemy to none.”
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