President Mnangagwa yesterday joined more than 100 fellow
world leaders and/or their representatives for the opening of the 73rd Ordinary
Session of the United Nations General Assembly, whose theme dovetails with his
quest to foster sustainable peace and economic equity at home.
The theme for this year’s General Debate is; “Making the
United Nations relevant to all people: Global Leadership and Shared
Responsibilities for Peaceful, Equitable and Sustainable Societies”.
President Mnangagwa heads a delegation that comprises
Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube, Reserve Bank
of Zimbabwe Governor Dr John Mangudya, Deputy Chief Secretary to the President
and Cabinet Mr George Charamba and other senior Government officials.
Zimbabwe’s Head of State and Government addresses the UN
today for the first time since winning the 2018 Presidential elections.
Yesterday, UN Secretary-General, Mr António Guterres,
called on global leaders to respect multilateralism for mutual, sustainable
development.
He said, “Individual leaders have the duty to advance the
well-being of their people. But it runs deeper. Together, as guardians of the
common good, we also have a duty to promote and support a reformed,
reinvigorated and strengthened multilateral system.
“We need renewed commitment to a rules-based order, with
the United Nations at its centre and with the different institutions and
treaties that bring the Charter to life.
“And we need to show the added value of international
cooperation by delivering peace, defending human rights and driving economic
and social progress for women and men
everywhere.
“That is why I am so committed to reform and to making the
United Nations more effective in responding to the needs and aspirations of ‘we
the peoples’.
“In the face of massive, existential threats to people and
planet — but equally at a time of compelling opportunities for shared
prosperity — there is no way forward, but collective, common-sense action for
the common good.”
President of the General Assembly, María Garcés, said
multilateralism was the world’s “only viable option” to end the problems facing
humanity, adding: “No one can be indifferent to human suffering. Wars,
conflicts, economic crises and environmental degradation affect us all equally.”
She enunciated seven priorities for the world; among them
gender equality and women’s empowerment, environmental protection and peace and
security.
There was a titter of laughter some minutes later when US
President Donald Trump took to the podium and declared: “In less than two years
my administration has accomplished more than almost any administration in the
history of our country — so true.”
When the brief laughter subsided, a typically unfazed
President Trump said: “Didn’t expect that reaction, but ok.” Herald
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