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The Herald
Herald Reporter
President Mnangagwa will join other Heads of State and Government today in the virtual opening session of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The opening procedure, which runs from today until Saturday, is being carried out for virtually the first time in accordance with the Covid-19 mitigation protocols that have been implemented around the world.
In his speech, President Mnangagwa is expected to seize the opportunity to reiterate calls for the unconditional removal of illegal economic sanctions imposed on the country, which has caused untold suffering to citizens over the past two decades.
The sanctions were imposed after Zimbabwe embarked on irreversible land reform at the turn of the millennium. The United States imposed the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (Zidera) of 2001 in Harare, along with an Executive Order 13288 of March 2003, which has been renewed annually, while the European Union introduced its own measures in February 2002 , but he lifted most of his liens in 2014.
Zidera effectively blocks Zimbabwe’s access to international financing and credit.
Under international law, international sanctions must be authorized or imposed by the UN Security Council, which was never done in the case of Zimbabwe, making the sanctions illegal.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Dr. Sibusiso Moyo, said yesterday: “As you know, it is the same time every year when the whole world gathers in New York for the United Nations General Assembly. All members of the United Nations, including Zimbabwe, attend.
“However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this has not been possible and as a result of that, the General Assembly of the United Nations for the first is going to be held virtually and it is in this context that this week is a week important of activities on the debates, declarations of the United Nations and all the other subjects “.
Dr. Moyo said that in addition to the UN celebrating its 75th anniversary, it also aims to close the inequality gap to achieve social justice, in line with this year’s theme.
“This resonates very well with the context and the direction that President Mnangagwa and his government are taking,” he said.
The Second Republic has prioritized the provision of safety nets, including the payment of school fees, the provision of subsidized roller food, and the disbursement of cash transfers to the poor, especially now that many citizens have been severely affected by Covid. -19.
Dr. Moyo said that in addition to the commemorations of the 75th anniversary of the UN, speakers, including the Secretary-General, presidents of the General Assembly and the Security Council, youth representatives and Heads of State, among others make speeches.
The 75th session of the UN General Assembly opened on September 15, but today is the first day of the high-level general debate.
The special event to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the UN took place yesterday, under the theme: “The future we want, the UN we need: reaffirming our collective commitment to multilateralism.”
