Zimbabwe, Japan Strengthen Ties as Tokyo Backs UN Seat Candidature

Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda has successfully concluded a week-long working visit to Japan, conducted under the framework of parliamentary diplomacy.

As part of his engagements, Mudenda held a high-level meeting last Friday with Fukushiro Nukaga, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan’s National Diet.

In his post-visit remarks, Mudenda emphasized that the mission reaffirmed Zimbabwe’s intention to deepen ties with Japan. He also sought Japan’s backing for Zimbabwe’s candidature for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2027–2028 term.

Nukaga pledged Tokyo’s full support, confirming that Japan’s Foreign Ministry had already committed itself to Zimbabwe’s bid. He assured Mudenda that Parliament would also align with this position, reflecting Japan’s broader policy direction.

“Japan firmly supports Zimbabwe’s pursuit of a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council,” Nukaga said.

This stance dovetails with Zimbabwe’s foreign policy approach, championed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, of promoting friendship with all nations, hostility with none, and contributing to peace under the principles of multilateralism and international law.

The discussions also touched on Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Nukaga referenced Mudenda’s interaction with Dr. Shinichi Kitaoka, former JICA President and a personal associate of his. Drawing on his own past leadership role within JICA, Nukaga highlighted how he had helped mobilize funding for development initiatives and reiterated his commitment to fostering socio-economic collaboration with countries such as Zimbabwe.

Mudenda, in turn, expressed gratitude for JICA’s longstanding support across multiple sectors in Zimbabwe, including infrastructure projects like the Chirundu One Stop Border Post and the proposed Nacala Corridor with Mozambique, healthcare, and smart agriculture programs.

He also pointed out further opportunities for cooperation, especially in the energy sector, where Zimbabwe continues to face supply deficits that are hampering industrial growth.

Extending the spirit of bilateral engagement, Mudenda invited Nukaga to visit Zimbabwe at a mutually convenient time, an invitation which was accepted. He also encouraged Japanese investors to consider opportunities in Zimbabwe’s economy, particularly in mining, assuring them that their investments would be safeguarded under the country’s constitutional guarantees on property rights.

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