President steps up engagement drive

• Published date: 24 September 2022
• Publication title: The Herald

Fungi Kwaramba in NEW YORK AFTER delivering his speech at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) where he underscored the importance of global peace and multilateralism, President Mnangagwa had bilateral engagements with Iranian President Ahmed Raisi and then attended a conference on diamonds that was organised by Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi. President Mnangagwa is using his visit to New York to engage investors and other Heads of State and Government as he champions the twin policies of engagement and re-engagement, as well as "Zimbabwe is open for business".

During his address at the 77th UNGA on Thursday, the biggest diplomatic stage, the President said the spread of terrorism and intensification of old conflicts on the African continent and throughout the world have been a setback to the silencing of guns mission. "In Southern Africa, we remain seized with insecurity and terrorist insurgency in Northern parts of Cabo Delgado in Mozambique and conflicts in parts of the Great Lakes Region.

"Emboldened by our SADC regional philosophy that 'an injury to one is an injury to all', we continue to pool our resources to fight terrorism and other threats to peace, security and stability in our region," said President Mnangagwa. "My country is greatly concerned that more than 20 years after the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, hate crimes, xenophobia, racial discrimination and intolerance have continued to increase at an alarming rate...