In the magnificent chambers of the United Nations (UN), where for eighty years nations have gathered to deliberate on war and peace, justice and human rights, climate change and development, and the future of international cooperation, there exists one body that bears the weight of global authority: the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
Comprising fifteen members, the UNSC serves as the custodian of international peace and security. Five of these—the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, and China (the P5)—are permanent members wielding the power of veto. This special privilege allows any of them to block a resolution on matters such as peacekeeping, sanctions, or conflict resolution, regardless of majority support.
The remaining ten members are non-permanent and are elected for two-year terms by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) through a system of regional rotation.
The Power of the Elected Ten
Much more is known about the P5 than the P10, reflecting the enduring power imbalance within the Security Council. Yet even without veto power, non-permanent members play crucial roles in shaping global decisions. Their seats are far from symbolic; they are vital instruments of influence, representation, and engagement.
For any Security Council resolution to pass, nine of the fifteen votes must be in favour, meaning that the elected members often determine the outcome of critical votes on sanctions, peacekeeping mandates, and conflict resolution. These nations represent regional interests and often serve as bridges between powerful states and smaller or emerging nations.
By representing the voiceless and underrepresented, the non-permanent members remind the world that security is a shared responsibility, not the exclusive domain of the powerful. Each of the ten elected members also has the privilege of presiding over the Council for one month, shaping its agenda and influencing the issues brought forward for consideration.
Zimbabwe’s Moment Has Come
In June 2026, in New York, all 193 UN member states will vote to elect the next ten non-permanent members of the UNSC. Candidates must obtain a two-thirds majority of the votes cast—at least 128—through a secret ballot, even if uncontested. Importantly, while the five permanent members hold veto power on substantive resolutions, they do not possess it in the election of non-permanent members.
As the Global South—and Africa in particular—seeks continued representation on the Council, Zimbabwe’s time has come. The country, long emerging from years of isolation and sanctions, now stands ready to reassert itself on the global stage.
In August 2025, His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa officially launched Zimbabwe’s campaign for a non-permanent seat in Harare. Later that year, during the 80th UN General Assembly in New York, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Professor Amon Murwira presented the campaign globally under the theme “Advancing 21st Century Solutions for Global Peace and Security through Multilateralism.”
Zimbabwe’s bid is not a test, but a statement—of intent, readiness, and re-engagement. If elected, Zimbabwe will serve from 2027 to 2028, marking its third tenure after previous terms from 1983–1984 and 1991–1992. This determination reflects a broader diplomatic strategy: deepening Zimbabwe’s integration into the international community while reaffirming its sovereignty and regional leadership.
Despite being labelled a pariah by some Western powers, Zimbabwe has remained steadfast in its commitment to independence, dialogue, and multilateral cooperation. The endorsement of Zimbabwe’s candidacy by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU) demonstrates strong regional consensus and confidence in its diplomatic maturity.
Zimbabwe’s Six Parameters of Foreign Policy Doctrine
At the heart of Zimbabwe’s foreign policy lie six guiding parameters that form the moral and strategic foundation of its UNSC campaign.
- A Friend to All and an Enemy to None
Zimbabwe’s consistent commitment to peace, dialogue, and the peaceful settlement of disputes underscores its adherence to UN principles. Its neutrality and openness enable it to serve as a credible bridge-builder among nations—fostering understanding rather than confrontation, cooperation rather than competition.
- Leaving No One and No Place Behind
Zimbabwe envisions inclusive development and shared prosperity as pillars of global peace. On the UNSC, it will advocate fairness and equal participation, ensuring that no nation—large or small—is left out of decisions shaping our common destiny.
- Zimbabwe Is Open for Business
Economic diplomacy lies at the centre of the country’s re-engagement efforts. Zimbabwe believes that sustainable economic cooperation is inseparable from global stability and security.
- Zimbabwe Will Forever Be a Sovereign and Independent State
Born from the struggle for independence, Zimbabwe cherishes sovereignty and self-determination. Its role in the UNSC will be guided by respect for all nations’ right to govern themselves free from coercion and interference.
- A Country Is Built by Its Own People
True development must be nationally owned. Zimbabwe’s UNSC voice will promote international support that empowers nations to build resilience from within rather than perpetuate dependency.
- Liberation of the Mind
Intellectual independence is the truest form of freedom. Zimbabwe’s foreign policy embraces the courage to challenge outdated paradigms and advance inclusive ideas for peace and governance.
The Desert Teaches You More About Water Than the Ocean Ever Could
Zimbabwe’s campaign can be captured in a single metaphor: “The desert teaches you more about water than the ocean ever could.”
This evocative phrase reflects wisdom gained through hardship—through years of scarcity, isolation, and perseverance. It speaks to empathy born of struggle and the capacity to value peace and cooperation precisely because they were once absent.
Having endured the “desert” of sanctions and exclusion, Zimbabwe understands the value of unity, dialogue, and fairness. Its experience has refined rather than weakened its resolve. Barren lands, after all, cultivate stronger roots.
A Measured Voice for the Marginalised
Zimbabwe’s journey mirrors that of many nations in the Global South—countries that have faced marginalisation in trade, politics, and global decision-making. This shared experience equips Zimbabwe to speak with moral authority for those who live in the “desert” of inequality, where opportunities are scarce and justice delayed.
It is precisely this lived history that grants Zimbabwe the right and responsibility to represent the voiceless, amplify the underrepresented, and promote inclusive global governance.
Solidarity with the Global South
The metaphor of the desert resonates far beyond Zimbabwe. Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, and parts of Asia have all felt the heat of the same desert—of exploitation, exclusion, and underdevelopment. Zimbabwe’s candidacy thus embodies solidarity among nations that understand deprivation and aspire to equity in global decision-making.
Its election would reaffirm the principle that peace and security are global goods, not privileges reserved for the powerful.
Moral Authority Through Struggle
Zimbabwe’s moral authority is not inherited but earned—through endurance, sovereignty, and resilience. Having withstood decades of external pressure and economic hardship, the nation can remind the world that peace and justice are most deeply valued by those who have lived without them.
As a consistent advocate of UN reform and equitable representation, Zimbabwe supports Security Council restructuring and the meaningful participation of women and youth in peacebuilding. Its voice, forged in adversity, is a call for fairness, dialogue, and collective progress.
A Call to the World
In an era marked by war, unilateralism, and geopolitical rivalries, the world needs voices tempered by humility and endurance. Zimbabwe’s experience offers that perspective. Its leadership within regional bodies—such as chairing SADC from 2024 to 2025—demonstrates its commitment to sustainable development, conflict resolution, and African solidarity.
Zimbabwe’s campaign is not about rewriting history but redefining participation. It is a reminder that peace is not a privilege of the powerful, but a necessity for all humanity.
Indeed, the desert teaches you more about water than the ocean ever could, and Zimbabwe, shaped by its own desert, stands ready to share those lessons with the world.
Written by Mr. Ndudzo Tugwete, Counsellor, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Zimbabwe to the United Nations Office and other International Organisations in Geneva. The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official positions of the Government of Zimbabwe or The Southern African Times.
