President Mnangagwa’s COP26 invitation a major diplomatic coup -Cabinet

Harare (New Ziana) – President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s invitation to the upcoming United Nations 26th Conference of Parties meeting in Glasgow, Scotland is a major breakthrough for Zimbabwe’s re-engagement drive, Cabinet said on Tuesday.
President Mnangagwa is expected to attend the UN COP26 meeting where he will lead a Zimbabwean delegation and present the country’s mitigation measures and adaptation strategies against the effects of climate change.
In a weekly post Cabinet briefing, Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the invitation was a major breakthrough for Zimbabwe’s diplomacy.
“The nation is informed that His Excellency the President has been invited to attend the 26th COP meeting in Glasgow, Scotland. The Conference, which will be attended by Heads of State and Government as well as Ministers from over 200 countries will run from 31 October to 12 November, 2021.
“This is a major breakthrough of Zimbabwe’s diplomacy during the Second Republic, which is anchored on the Engagement and Re-engagement Policy guided by the mantra “Friend to all and enemy to none”, coming as it does after over two decades of non engagement at that level,” she said
In a message posted on his official Twitter account last month, President Mnangagwa said” if climate change continues at its current rate, thousands of Zimbabweans will lose their jobs, homes, or even their lives.
“Ahead of COP26, Zimbabwe has now committed to reducing emissions by 40 percent before 2030. The time for words is over – we must act now.”
Cabinet said the implementation of renewable energy projects in the country and use of more efficient low emission technologies in thermal power plants reflect Government’s commitment towards reduction in emissions.
” The nation is informed that, Zimbabwe is a member of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), whose major objective is the stabilisation of greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide.
“These gases contribute to climate change. This objective is being fulfilled through the Paris Agreement of 2015 on climate change, which mandates all countries to contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs),” said Cabinet.
New Ziana