Zimbabwe marks UN Day

Zimbabwe has joined the rest of the world in celebrating the United Nations Day, which also marked the 61st anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, The Herald reported on Thursday.

This year's celebrations were also important as they were marked by one of the last speeches of the outgoing UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

Speaking Wednesday at the ceremony, Obert Matshalaga, deputy minister of foreign affairs, said Zimbabwe was commemorating "this day with much pleasure and pride especially for the job well done by Dr. Annan" whom he described as the voice of humanity.

"We as Africans even celebrate more because the outgoing secretary general (Dr Annan) is one of Africa's illustrious sons who has so perfectly accomplished his 10 year term in office," he said.

Matshalaga added that in bidding farewell to Dr. Annan, Zimbabwe seizes the opportunity to welcome Mr. Ban Ki-Moon as the new United Nations secretary general.

"As Zimbabwe, we stand ready to work with him and wish him all the success in his stewardship with the United Nations as the organization seeks to streamline and strengthen in order to meet the demands of the 21st century," he added.

Source: Xinhua