by Tawanda Musariri

President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday made his maiden appearance at the United Nations General Assembly where he made a passionate plea for the world to cooperate towards the liberation of occupied states.

He told the 193-member body that the world needed to sharpen its conscience towards the urgent need to liberate the peoples of Palestine and Western Sahara.

“In the spirit of leaving no one behind, our efforts to promote global partnership for peace and development would never be complete unless we address the plight of people living under occupation. It is most saddening that some of us continue to turn a blind eye to the suffering of the people of Palestine.

“It is high time the Security Council fulfilled its Charter obligations and duties by implementing all it’s Resolutions; including Resolution 181, 242, 338 and 2334.

“On the African continent, it is equally disheartening that the people of Western Sahara are yet to exercise their inalienable right to self determination. We call on the Security Council to insist on the holding of an independent referendum for the Saharawi people without delay, in compliance to the relevant decisions of the African Union and the resolutions of the United Nations.

“Furthermore, it is imperative and urgent for the Council to work tirelessly to strengthen its cooperation with the African Union Peace and Security Council in the search for a just and fair solution to the issue of Western Sahara,” said President Mnangagwa. 

President Mnangagwa also called for the removal of sanctions which have impinged on the country’s development efforts.

 “… of the continued illegal sanctions imposed on our country. We call for their immediate and unconditional removal.”

Zimbabwe continues to advocate for its sovereignty and that of other downtrodden nations on the world stage.