President Mnangagwa Says Zimbabwe’s Land Is Defined by Sovereignty, Not Race

• President Mnangagwa tells global summit Zimbabwe’s land “will never be defined by race”

• At Dubai summit, Mnangagwa says Africa is “no longer a spectator” in global affairs

• Zimbabwe’s president defends sovereignty, says “the narrative of our nation is ours to write”

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has told an international audience that Zimbabwe’s land should not be defined by race, saying it belongs to the country’s people and is rooted in their history and sovereignty.

Speaking at the World Government Summit in Dubai on Tuesday, Mnangagwa said, “Zimbabwe’s land is not, and will never be, defined by the race of those who live upon it.”

He added that the land is instead defined by “the unbreakable spirit, the sweat, and the sovereignty of the Zimbabwean people.”

The president linked Zimbabwe’s current policies to its liberation struggle, saying his personal journey reflected the country’s broader history.

“My own journey, from a boy who faced the chains and fire of the liberation struggle to the leader I am today, mirrors the resilience of our nation,” he said.

President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe’s resistance to external influence has spanned decades, arguing that the country has fought not only for territory but for independence and dignity.

“For six decades, this spirit of resistance against colonial oppression and neo-colonial mindsets has been our compass,” he said.

Turning to Africa’s role in global affairs, the president said the continent was no longer on the margins of international decision-making.

“Africa is no longer a spectator in the halls of global power; we are authors of our own destiny,”Mnangagwa told delegates.

He also rejected criticism of Zimbabwe’s policies, using strong language to defend national sovereignty.

“A lion does not whisper when its homeland is discussed. It roars,” he said.

Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe was focused on building a future grounded in its own history while engaging globally as an equal partner.

“We are building a Zimbabwe that is rooted in its own heritage, confident in its capabilities, and an equal partner on the world stage,” he said, adding that “the narrative of our nation is ours to write.”

The World Government Summit brings together leaders from across the world to discuss governance, development and international cooperation, with several African heads of state participating in this year’s meeting.