Zimbabwe to Attend IOMed Launch, Reaffirming Commi...

Zimbabwe to Attend IOMed Launch, Reaffirming Commitment to Global Peace

Science, Technology To Shape Africa’s Growth – Minister Murwira — **Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Professor Amon Murwira**

ZimNow Reporter

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Professor Amon Murwira, along with the country’s Ambassador to China, Mrs. Abigail Shoniwa, is set to attend the official launch of the International Organization for Mediation in Hong Kong on May 30, a senior government source has confirmed.

China's Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi is expected at the event, which will mark the formal signing of the Convention establishing IOMed—the world’s first intergovernmental legal body solely dedicated to resolving international disputes through mediation.

A senior official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Zim Now that Zimbabwe’s participation at high level signals its “unwavering support for mediation as a preferred method of peaceful conflict resolution.”

“Zimbabwe has consistently advocated for dialogue and multilateral cooperation over confrontation,” the official said. “Our presence at the IOMed launch affirms that belief and reflects our commitment to contributing to a more stable, just global order.”

The official also noted that Zimbabwe’s endorsement of mediation is consistent with its historical contributions to global peace through participation in UN peacekeeping operations.

Since the 1990s, Zimbabwe has deployed uniformed personnel—both soldiers and police officers—to peacekeeping missions under the auspices of the United Nations and the African Union.

Zimbabwean peacekeepers have served in Angola, Somalia, Liberia, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, among other conflict zones. The country has also contributed to observer missions and electoral support operations, particularly in West and Central Africa.

Zimbabwe was particularly active during the 1990s and early 2000s, when it sent troops and military observers to:

• Angola (UNAVEM III)

• Mozambique (ONUMOZ)

• Sudan/Darfur (UNAMID)

• Democratic Republic of Congo during the Second Congo War under the Southern African Development Community (SADC) mandate

Over the years, Zimbabwe has continued contributing police officers to UN missions in South Sudan and Liberia, with personnel often praised for professionalism and community engagement.

Zimbabwean peacekeepers have received international commendation for their service. In 2022, Major Winnet Zharare was awarded the United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award for her outstanding work in South Sudan.

Serving as a military observer with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Major Zharare advocated for gender equality and the inclusion of women in peace processes. UN Secretary-General António Guterres lauded her as “a role model and a trailblazer,” highlighting her efforts in building trust and advocating for change in conflict-affected communities.

The International Organization for Mediation, spearheaded by China in partnership with a coalition of nations across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, aims to provide voluntary, non-adversarial platforms for resolving conflicts between states and between states and private actors.

Its establishment comes at a time when global diplomacy faces paralysis, particularly within the United Nations Security Council.

“We believe that multilateralism must be revitalized through action, not rhetoric,” the foreign affairs official said. “Mediation represents a pathway to global cooperation that prioritizes dialogue over dominance.”

Zimbabwe joins nearly 60 countries expected to endorse the treaty establishing IOMed, with more than 20 international organizations, including UN affiliates, sending high-level delegations to the Hong Kong launch.