New York – Zimbabwe is using its participation in the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York to push for stronger multilateral cooperation, reform of the UN system and greater African representation in global decision making.
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Professor Amon Murwira is leading the Zimbabwean delegation at the high level meetings, as President Emmerson Mnangagwa prepares to participate in the General Assembly.
The 81st General Assembly is being held under the theme “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations that Delivers for All.” The General Debate runs from 22 to 26 September and resumes on 28 September 2026.
Speaking about Zimbabwe’s participation, Murwira said the country’s engagement with the United Nations is also rooted in its Constitution.
“What is very important is to refer to section 12 subsection 2 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe which directs Zimbabwe first of all to be Pan African and second of all to belong to organisations that stand for peace, human dignity and progress. The United Nations is such a body.
“Therefore, his excellency the president when coming to New York to the United Nations is is fulfilling a sacred constitutional mandate. Because Zimbabwe is one of the 193 countries or member states of the United Nations. Therefore, becomes very important that his excellency is coming.”
Murwira said Zimbabwe would use its participation to advance discussions around peace and security, reform of the United Nations, equitable representation and sustainable development.
He said the theme of restoring trust was particularly important at a time when the international system was facing divisions and questions about the effectiveness of multilateral institutions.
“Restoring trust is such an important thing because once we have don’t have trust in the United Nations It leads to the polarization of the international order as we know it.”
Murwira also called for reforms that would make the United Nations more representative of the world as it exists today.
He said the organisation must reflect the 193 member states that make up the United Nations in 2026 rather than the global political structure that existed when the organisation was established in 1945.
“In 1945, most of the world, including Zimbabwe, were colonies. And there were some countries that purported to represent us and represent our interest. But you know, we are 46 years old as an independent sovereign state. And therefore, we need equal treatment within the United Nations.”
Zimbabwe’s position on reform will carry added significance as the country prepares to serve as a non permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2027 to 2028 term. Zimbabwe received 182 votes from the 193 member General Assembly, with 190 countries eligible to vote in the election.
Murwira said Zimbabwe would also support discussions around Africa’s representation on the Security Council, including the position contained in the Ezulwini Consensus calling for two permanent seats for Africa.
He said Africa had historically called for a more democratic and representative United Nations and that the question of veto power would remain part of the reform debate.
“So we are at a time of this transformation within the United Nations and his excellency is coming at that point where that transformation is being talked about and I am sure his excellence is going to push this agenda and also the agenda of justice across the world because justice breathes peace and peace is a template for international development when countries can trade fairly when countries can talk fairly where tables are horizontal and they are not tilted.”
The Zimbabwean delegation is also expected to use the UNGA platform to discuss development challenges, including health, pandemic preparedness, climate change and rising sea levels. The UN has scheduled a high level meeting on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response for 25 September, while a high level meeting on sea level rise is scheduled for 24 September.
Murwira said Zimbabwe viewed peace and security as an important foundation for economic and social development.
“His excellence message is always a message of peace that together we can make the world a better place. But for there to be peace, it has to be a fair world where every country feels represented.”
Zimbabwe is also linking its diplomatic programme to economic engagement through the Zimbabwe Business Forum, which is being organised by ZimTrade, the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority and the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency.
The forum forms part of the Government’s stated “Zimbabwe is Open for Business” policy and is intended to connect Zimbabwe with international investors, businesses and other economic partners.
Murwira said the broader diplomatic approach was intended to strengthen Zimbabwe’s integration into the global economy.
“On behalf of us all. Because from a country that used to be said isolated to a country that has got 100% support in the world And mathematically we could, we can prove that because on the 3rd of June 2026, the world spoke.”
He linked the country’s foreign policy approach to Mnangagwa’s stated principle of “Friend to All and Enemy to None”, saying Zimbabwe had sought to strengthen relations with countries and institutions across the international system.
The Minister also pointed to economic indicators that he said demonstrated changes in Zimbabwe’s economic position, including inflation, gross domestic product, trade and exports.
Some of the figures cited by Murwira differ from figures published by international financial institutions. The World Bank reported in September that Zimbabwe had achieved single digit local currency inflation in early 2026 and that real GDP growth averaged nearly 6 percent between 2021 and 2025.
Murwira said Zimbabwe was approaching the UN General Assembly from a position focused on contributing to international discussions on peace, security, trade, development, science and technology.
“So, Zimbabwe is coming in a position of strength, in a position of contribution, in a position of a forward-looking country which is ready to contribute to the peace and security of this world, to the economy of this world, to the trade issues of this world, to the science and technology of this world, basically to a world where people share.”
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