By Professor Amon Murwira
Ambassador of the Republic of Zimbabwe to the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency, Lovemore Mazemo.
Distinguished Guest of Honour, Honourable Mondli Gungubele, Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassador of Eritrea, His Excellency, Salih Omar Abdu.
Members of the Diplomatic Corps, distinguished guests, members of the Zimbabwean Community, staff at the Zimbabwe Embassy and the Consulate in Johannesburg, members of the Media here present, ladies and gentlemen.
On this, the 46th Anniversary of our Independence, we convene to celebrate the progress of our modern nation and the restoration of our national dignity.
This historic milestone marks the definitive reclamation of our fundamental right to self-determination as a forever sovereign and independent state.
Having secured our freedom through profound sacrifice, Zimbabwe now engages the global community with clarity and strategic intent.
Our international conduct is anchored in the supreme authority of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, which serves as our definitive guide.
Drawing directly from the values and principles enshrined in Section 12 of the Constitution, His Excellency the President, Dr ED Mnangagwa, derives the vision and formulates the Doctrine of Foreign Relations and International Cooperation.
This doctrine is the essential framework used to operationalize our supreme law, ensuring that our international actions reflect our national interests, respect for international law, and the pursuit of peaceful co-existence.
Within this constitutional context, the President observed: “On the international relations domain, Zimbabwe is ‘a friend to all and an enemy to none.’
“Our country is deepening and broadening relations with other jurisdictions, across Africa, Asia, Middle East, Europe, and the Americas, as well as the recent addition of the Caribbean and Pacific Island States”.
Zimbabwe’s independence serves as a definitive transition into our role as a responsible and proactive member of the community of nations, dedicated to the universal values of peace, security, and human dignity.
We remain steadfast in our resolve to uphold the sovereign equality of all nations, a foundational principle that guides our path of self-determination and national development.
Our international conduct is anchored in the core tenets of mutual respect, mutual benefit, and mutual responsibility, ensuring that our global engagements contribute to a balanced and equitable world order.
Building upon this foundation, Zimbabwe views its independence as a sacred responsibility to contribute meaningfully to global peace and security.
Our hard-won liberation gave rise to a people-centered, new Constitution that serves as the legal and moral compass for our international conduct.
This commitment is explicitly enshrined in Section 12(1) of our Constitution, which anchors Zimbabwe’s foreign policy in the respect for international law and the primacy of national interests within a stable global environment.
Specifically, Section 12(1)(c) mandates the unwavering pursuit of peaceful co-existence with all nations, while Section 12(1)(d) provides a supreme legal directive for the settlement of international disputes by peaceful means.
These constitutional imperatives are the bedrock of our candidature for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2027–2028 term.
We are a true believer in the UN Charter.
Zimbabwe does not merely speak of peace; we have lived it through a proven track record in peacekeeping, having deployed professional forces to missions in Angola, Somalia, Liberia, South Sudan, and Timor-Leste.
By seeking this seat, Zimbabwe offers itself as a principled and predictable partner, dedicated to the supremacy of diplomacy and the promotion of a representative global governance architecture that ensures the collective future of humanity is anchored in stability and justice.
This pursuit of global stability is a natural extension of the deep-seated regional bonds that have defined our identity for centuries. Central to this regional foundation is the enduring solidarity and historical ties that unite Zimbabwe and the Republic of South Africa.
This relationship was not only strengthened through the shared sacrifices of our liberation struggles but is rooted in an even deeper history of shared ancient heritage, a relationship that stretches back further to an era of shared pre-colonial civilisations.
Our presence in Pretoria this week is a profound expression of this unbreakable bond of Pan-African solidarity, which has matured from ancient cultural heritage into a robust strategic partnership dedicated to our shared destiny of prosperity and mutual respect.
As a testament to this mutual respect, we express our gratitude to the Government of South Africa for facilitating the repatriation of the Zimbabwe Bird, the soapstone plinth, and human remains kept since the colonial era.
The return of these sacred artefacts is a significant act of cultural restoration that reinforces our national identity and provides closure for our people.
As we continue to work in unison to carve an international environment conducive to unity, peace, and development, we reaffirm that the unbreakable bonds between Zimbabwe and South Africa are the foundation upon which we build a more representative and just global order.
It is in this spirit of enduring partnership and shared aspiration for the collective future of humanity that we celebrate our common journey.
It is now my honour to invite you to join me in a toast: To the good health of His Excellency Mr Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa and Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, President of The Republic of Zimbabwe.
To the enduring relations between our two nations and peoples.
To Zimbabwe’s continued contribution to international peace and security, including its aspirations to serve as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council; and and to your personal good health and success, Honourable Minister Gungubele.
I thank you.
This is the keynote address by the Zimbabwe Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Hon Professor Amon Murwira on the occasion of the 46th anniversary of Zimbabwe’s Independence, and campaign for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.
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