PRESS STATEMENT
For Immediate Release
New York, 23.09.25 – Ms. Etambuyu Gundersen, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has called for a collective and action-oriented approach to address global challenges.
The Permanent Secretary was speaking at the 25th Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting (CFAMM) held on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly on 22nd September 2025 at UN Headquarters in New York.
She delivered the remarks on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Mulambo Haimbe, S.C, M.P.
Ms. Gundersen urged Commonwealth Member States to leverage their shared values and unity to address pressing global challenges.
She emphasised the need for a collective response to overlapping global shocks, including pandemics, climate-induced disasters, and economic disruptions.
The Permanent Secretary urged the Commonwealth Secretariat to prioritise support for early warning systems, social safety nets, and responsive policy frameworks to ensure no member nation is left behind in times of crisis.
She highlighted the persistent challenges of access to finance and fair trade, particularly for small States and Least Developed Countries.
Ms. Gundersen reaffirmed democratic governance as a core Commonwealth value, yet it remains under pressure in many regions.
She called for continued support for free and fair elections, judicial independence, and anti-corruption efforts, enhanced engagement in conflict prevention and peacebuilding initiatives, protection of media freedom, and the defense of human rights, among others.
The meeting emphasized the collective responsibility of nations in tackling global crises such as peace, climate change, and economic inequality.
The ministers collectively advocated for an intensified commitment to multilateralism.
The ministers reviewed progress made since the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa and agreed on a clear roadmap for advancing the Commonwealth’s mission until CHOGM 2026 in Antigua and Barbuda.
Meanwhile, Commonwealth Secretary-General, Hon. Shirley Botchwey used her first CFAMM meeting to call for a renewed focus on multilateralism as the foundation of global cooperation.
The meeting was also attended by H.E, Macenje Mazoka, Zambia’s High Commissioner to London and other senior government officials.
Issued by:
Namatama Njekwa
First Secretary for Press and Public Relations
Permanent Mission of the Republic of Zambia to the United Nations
