Zimbabwe eyes UN Security Council seat

ANESU MASAMVU

Zimbabwe is gearing up for a major diplomatic milestone with a strong campaign to secure a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2027–2028 term. But political analysts say the hard work may already be done—with key endorsements from global heavyweights such as Russia, India, and Cuba, as well as regional blocs like the African Union (AU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), positioning Zimbabwe as a frontrunner in the race

Zimbabwe’s close diplomatic ties with Mozambique, which recently served a two-year term on the Security Council, further enhance its prospects. Currently, Algeria and Somalia are representing Africa as non-permanent members, having assumed their seats in January 2025.

The UN Security Council, tasked with maintaining global peace and security, is composed of five permanent members with veto power—China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States—and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.

Information Minister Dr. Jenfan Muswere revealed this week that the campaign will be spearheaded by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

“Cabinet considered and approved Zimbabwe’s Campaign Strategy on the country’s candidature for a Non-Permanent Seat on the United Nations Security Council for the term 2027–2028,” Muswere said during a post-cabinet press briefing.

He added, “Zimbabwe’s bid for a non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council for the 2027–2028 term has already been endorsed by both the Southern African Development Community and the African Union and will be officially launched by His Excellency the President Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa in Harare and in New York during the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025.”

Piers Pigou, a southern Africa analyst at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in Pretoria, told Business Times that Zimbabwe’s campaign is likely to proceed without significant resistance.

“Having read that Zimbabwe already has SADC and AU endorsement, that is a strong sign, and unless someone actively tries to decampaign them, folks won’t stand in the way of African decision-making,” Pigou said.

He added that the UNSC campaign presents Zimbabwe with an opportunity to demonstrate its diplomatic capacity and leadership in regional and international affairs.

“With respect to some of the conflicts within the region, it is an opportunity for Zimbabwe to platform its diplomatic prowess on these issues and put some solid, proactive recommendations on the table,” he noted.

Mozambique’s successful campaign in 2022, which culminated in its historic election to the UNSC with 192 out of 193 votes, is widely seen as a model Zimbabwe could follow. It marked the first time Mozambique had served on the Council, and analysts believe Zimbabwe can benefit from its neighbor’s experience.

Political scientist Richard Mahomva described the widespread support for Zimbabwe’s bid as a testament to its maturing foreign policy and long-standing calls for reform of the international system.

“The late Robert Gabriel Mugabe was quite emphatic in that respect, so it shows that we have been consistent for decades in pursuing the decolonization of multilateral politics but at the same time proving that we have the support of other marginalized members of the world who feel that we have that capable role,” Mahomva said.

He continued, “I also see this as a seal of endorsement of our foreign policy and its maturation beyond polemic sentiments towards a constructive paradigm of engaging the world.”

However, not all experts are convinced of the campaign’s value. Dr. Wellington Gadzikwa, a political analyst at Africa University, argued that without permanent representation, Africa’s rotating seat is largely symbolic.

“I think it is not something that we can be proud of or we can show our diplomacy because the late former President Robert Mugabe has always argued that we need a reform of the UN so that other countries can become permanent members of the UN Security Council. We need to reform the UN Security Council,” Gadzikwa said in an interview.

“So, just aiming for, you know, that non-permanent membership is just a futile exercise. It’s a PR exercise that is no dividend for the country or for the continent because it’s not changing anything except that maybe if you get it, you can go around telling people that we are now part of that. But that is not the aim, even if you are supported by Russia, China, and so forth,” he said.

Asked what tangible benefits Zimbabwe would gain from a non-permanent seat, Gadzikwa responded, “I don’t think that being part of that will benefit the country in any way because the major aim is to democratize the UN Security Council, not to accept non-permanent membership on a rotational basis where you have limited powers and you can basically do nothing.”

The P5—China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US—hold veto power, making them the most influential actors in the Security Council. The ten elected non-permanent members, although able to participate in decision-making, do not possess the power to veto resolutions.

Zimbabwe’s campaign, once formally launched, will aim to navigate this complex diplomatic landscape with strong regional and global backing. Whether the seat brings symbolic prestige or real influence, the bid marks a significant chapter in Zimbabwe’s foreign policy ambitions.