Ambassador Taonga Mushayavanhu Calls for Reparatory Justice at 2025 Africa Dialogue Series

05 June 2025

By Kenneth K. Nyika

At the 2025 Africa Dialogue Series in New York, the Mission of the Republic of Zimbabwe to United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Ambassador Taonga Mushayavanhu emphasized the need for reparatory justice for Africans and people of African descent. He stressed that justice is not merely about reflecting on the past but about taking decisive action in the present.

In his address, Ambassador Mushayavanhu highlighted that economic justice must be paired with social transformation, which is vital for Africa’s future. He further called for economic restructuring and reforms that would enable African nations to benefit more from their resources.

“Africa’s continued reliance on raw exports,compounded by crashing debt and inflated risk premiums, perpetuates vulnerability and dependence” said Ambassador Mushayavanhu

“Zimbabwe has taken steps through policies such as the 2023 Best Minerals Export Control Order, which mandates value addition in taxes on processed exports”

He went on to add that “These efforts must be matched by global reforms, reforms that democratize finance, restore agents over capital flows, and invest in infrastructure innovation and industrialization”

The Ambassador advocated for the repatriation of stolen cultural artifacts and the revitalization of indigenous knowledge and languages, arguing that reclaiming cultural identity is essential for achieving true justice.

Moreover, he emphasized the importance of human rights, including the right to a healthy environment, particularly in the face of climate change. He called for climate justice to ensure that Africa has access to the necessary resources to combat these challenges.

The dialogue ran under the theme, “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations.”