Story by Fairstars Mukungurutse
AS Zimbabwe bids for a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s historic engagements that propelled regional integration and peace efforts, particularly in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) during his tenure as SADC Chair, serve as clear testimony of the country’s eligibility to lead global security issues.
During his tenure as SADC Chairperson from August last year to August this year, President Mnangagwa demonstrated Zimbabwe’s commitment to peace, security, and international cooperation.
Under his leadership, regional peace and security were key deliverables.
“In our collective resolve to realise sustainable peace and security, which remain the guarantor to our aspirations for a SADC region characterised by unity, independence, development, and prosperity,” President Mnangagwa said.
From the extraordinary November Summit, further talks were held in search of peace and security within the region.
In January 2025, an extraordinary summit was held to deliberate on the situation in Eastern DRC, while in February, the Chairperson went on to lead the region to a historic joint summit of SADC and the East African Community (EAC).
“This historic summit of our two regional blocs is testament to our shared commitment to the founding values of the African Union. Such joint initiatives must see us scale up bold and decisive actions to silence the guns on our continent,” President Mnangagwa said.
In March this year, a virtual indaba between SADC and EAC agreed on the appointment of five facilitators to trace the implementation of the agreed roadmap to end the conflict in the DRC.
“On March 17, 2025, our ministers convened a joint meeting whose outcomes are tabled before us today. These engagements have yielded commendable successes. There is therefore a need for us to accelerate the implementation of our joint interventions to arrest these worrisome developments,” the President said.
On the first of August, the facilitators met with SADC and EAC chairpersons, Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and William Ruto in Nairobi, Kenya.
In his remarks during the joint summit, President Mnangagwa expressed hope that the joint efforts would help achieve peace, relief, and reconciliation in the Eastern DRC.
“Collaboration between the esteemed panel of facilitators, the African Union, the SADC and EAC regional blocs is key in delivering a lasting solution to this conflict that has negatively impacted the lives and levels of the people of Eastern DRC for far too long,” he said.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere says securing a seat in the United Nations Security Council cements the country’s commitment towards international peace.
“Zimbabwe’s bid for a non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council for the 2027/2028 term has already been endorsed by both the Southern African Development Community and the African Union and will be officially launched by His Excellency the President, Dr Mnangagwa in New York during the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025. The outcome will be the reaffirmation of the country’s commitment to upholding international peace and security, as well as the generation of international goodwill towards the country,” he said.
Zimbabwe is no novice to global peace and security leadership, having previously served in the Council as a non-permanent member from 1983-1984 and 1991-1992.
