President Emmerson Mnangagwa has called for universal application of international law, reform of the UN Security Council, and a renewed commitment to collective security, as he addressed the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly under the theme "Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation."
In his address, the President said that in a world facing intensifying climate shocks and conflict, humanity's challenges know no borders and no nation can overcome them alone.
"To restore global trust, international law must be applied universally — not selectively. It cannot be a shield for some and a sword against others," he said.
Security Council priorities
President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe will take its seat on the UN Security Council for the 2027–2028 term guided by its foreign policy of "a friend to all and an enemy to none."
He outlined the country's commitments as:
· Promoting preventive diplomacy and peaceful conflict resolution · Strengthening UN ties with the African Union to silence the guns · Advancing the peace and security agendas for women and youth
Call for Security Council reform
The President said true collective security requires reforming the Security Council to move past 1945 realities.
"Africa is united, sovereign, independent and rising. The outdated 'horse and rider' mentality and unilateral coercive measures have no place in modern global discourse," he said.
Development progress
President Mnangagwa said peace cannot endure without development, noting that Zimbabwe's GDP has grown three-fold since 2017 through robust reforms.
"Zimbabwe is open for business! We are accelerating food security through climate-smart agriculture and leaving no one and no place behind through aggressive rural industrialisation," he said.
The President concluded by urging the international community to protect the UN Charter, reject selective compliance, and build a fairer, more inclusive world for succeeding generations.
