Zimbabwe's application to join the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) was unanimously adopted at the 80th session of the UN Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) in New York on 31 Oct 2025, under Agenda item 48: International cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space.
Zimbabwe, together with other new members #cotedivoire , #Honduras, #Maldives, #Malta and #Gambia joins the bloc already composed of 104 members tasked on promoting international cooperation in the development of the outer space.
The Committee meets annually in Vienna, Austria, to discuss questions relating to current and future activities in space and submits proposals for adoption to UN General Assembly in New York. Some topics for discussion include maintaining outer space for peaceful purposes, safe operations in orbit, space debris management, space weather monitoring, the threat from asteroids, the safe use of nuclear power in outer space, climate change, water management, global navigation satellite systems, and questions concerning space law and national space legislation.
The Deputy Permanent Representative, Mrs. Irene Muchaitei Juru delivered Zimbabwe’s statement on behalf of Ambassador Taonga Mushayavanhu during the General Debate segment. The statement emphasized Zimbabwe’s commitment to leveraging space science and technology for socio-economic development. Since launching the Zimbabwe National Geospatial and Space Agency (ZINGSA) in 2018, Zimbabwe has made significant strides, notably with the operational launch of earth observation satellites ZIMSAT-1 and ZIMSAT-2, aimed at improving agricultural applications, geological studies, urban and rural mapping, climate change monitoring, and related fields.
Zimbabwe appreciated the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs @UNOOSA for aiding developing countries, particularly through initiatives like UN-SPIDER, which enhances capacity building on disaster management and emergency response. Zimbabwe pledged to actively participate in global space governance and the establishment of legal frameworks to ensure a responsible approach to outer space utilization.
#nuclear #AccSpace4All #SatelliteDeployment #Space4SDGs #DidYouKnow #PAROS @muchaitei
🚀✨ We celebrate the visionary space engineers who are paving the way for the future of space exploration in Zimbabwe!
🌌 Their dedication & innovation are inspiring a new generation of scientists & explorers. Together, they are lifting Zimbabwe’s aspirations to new heights!
🌌🛰️ Exciting Glimpses from World Space Week 2023 in Zimbabwe, thanks to @ZimbabweSpace 's dedicated team! Discover how young minds were captivated by a range of activities, from thrilling virtual space journeys to engaging drone workshops. #wsw2023#zingsa