Story by Yvonne Mkondani
ZIMBABWE has secured strong backing from Central and Eastern European nations for its bid to secure a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2027-2028 term, in a major diplomatic boost for the country’s international engagement efforts.
Speaking during Tuesday’s post-Cabinet briefing, the Acting Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Jenfan Muswere, said Cabinet had considered and noted a report on the outreach mission undertaken by President Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Special Envoy and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Professor Amon Murwira, to Albania, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina from April 29 to May 8.
“The purpose of the outreach was to fulfil the foreign policy pillar of promoting a peaceful and secure international environment for Zimbabwe’s development through canvassing for support for Zimbabwe’s candidature for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the period 2027-2028,” said Dr Muswere.
He added, “All the countries visited affirmed their full support for Zimbabwe’s candidature for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2027-2028 term.”
Dr Muswere said the engagements also strengthened bilateral cooperation between Zimbabwe and the European nations visited.
“The countries visited agreed to strengthen bilateral relations through the establishment of structured frameworks of cooperation in the form of Joint Permanent Cooperation Commissions,” he said.
He noted that the outreach mission also opened new opportunities for economic cooperation and international trade.
“The visit provided an opportunity to promote trade and economic cooperation through Zimbabwe’s participation at the Serbia Expo 27 and other fairs in the region, as well as the commitment by the countries to participate at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair and Mine Entra,” he said.
Meanwhile, Cabinet also noted progress on the implementation of the Job Evaluation Exercise and the new remuneration framework for 2026 within the Public Service.
Dr Muswere said Government will activate an appeals mechanism to address anomalies arising from the exercise.
“In order to address anomalies in the recently concluded Job Evaluation and Grading System within the Public Service, an appeals mechanism encompassing a Job Evaluation Appeals Committee will be activated to expeditiously address individual-specific grading and hierarchical anomalies across all public institutions of Zimbabwe,” he said.
He added that ministries, departments and agencies will be allowed to submit written concerns regarding the exercise, with the process expected to be finalised by 31 May 2026.
“A stakeholder workshop comprising workers’ representatives and ministries, departments and agencies will also be held in due course to iron out issues emanating from the job evaluation implementation process,” said Dr Muswere.
