President Mnangagwa calls for immediate ceasefire in Gaza

Harare (New Ziana) -President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Wednesday added his voice to calls for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip where fighting between Israel and the Islamic militant group Hamas has killed thousands of innocent civilians, including aid workers.

President Mnangagwa, who was represented by Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri, made the call at a function to commemorate the 78th anniversary of the United Nations in the capital.

He urged all parties involved in the conflict to give dialogue a chance, and to focus all efforts towards finding durable, mutually beneficial, sustainable solutions.

“As we reflect on the principles and purposes of the UN Charter, which call for the peaceful settlement of disputes, let me use this opportunity to join the world in calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and an immediate end to hostilities, that have resulted in the untold suffering of civilians. Healthcare workers and humanitarian workers must never be legitimate targets,” he said.

President Mnangagwa said although the United Nations was born out of the collective desire to save future generations from the scourge of war, and to promote peace within and among nations, the world continues to witness untold human suffering as a result of conflicts.

He said his government has benefited immensely from its cooperation with the UN under the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2022-2026, anchored on its own National Development Strategy 1, as the country seeks to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

UN support to healthcare system, agricultural sector, youth and gender empowerment, and humanitarian capacity development, among many areas of cooperation, has positively impacted the country’s quest for economic development, said President Mnangagwa.

“We have witnessed an alignment of priorities between the government and the United Nations in Zimbabwe, which has steadily increased the impact of our cooperation on the lives of the people of Zimbabwe,” he said.

President Mnangagwa called for the revitalisation of the UN to make it an effective, credible, relevant and responsive organisation, adding that the complex challenges facing the world today can only be addressed through international cooperation, with the world body at the centre.

Speaking at the same occasion, UN resident coordinator Edward Kallon said the UN system was playing a crucial role through its Cooperation Framework, which is aligned to the country’s NDS1, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union Agenda 2063.

He said the UN is targeting to mobilise US$2.8 billion over a five-year program of the cooperation framework to support the implementation of NDS1 by focusing on strengthening national institutions, building the capacity of Zimbabweans to engage, plan, manage and achieve their development aspirations.

“Through this comprehensive approach, we anticipate driving transformative, inclusive and sustainable development in crucial areas such as economic growth, quality social services, resilience building and climate action, food and nutrition security, gender equality, good governance, peace and human rights,” said Kallon.

New Ziana