By Wallace Mawire/Zimbabwe/Harare
The lslamic Community in Zimbabwe on Sunday, 12 April,2026 marked the 40th Day commemoration of the martyrdom of the supreme leader of the lslamic Revolution AyatollahSayyed Ali Khamenei in solidarity with the students of Minab and all heroic martyrs,men and women of the lslamic Republic of Iran.
The event was by the lran Embassyin Harareat the Aale Muhammad Mosque in Avondale.
Welcome remarks and a recitation of the Holy Quran was offered by Maulaa Khalid Mwale, who acted as the moderator.
The host speaker was His Excellecy Dr Amir Hossein Hosseini,Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Zimbabwe.
Other perpectives on the occasion were offered by Sheikh Abdullah Makwinja, President of the Ahlulbayt lslamic Guidance Council of Zimbabwe,Sheikh lsmael Duwa, President of the Supreme Council of lslamic Affairs in Zimbabwe and the Cultural Counselor of the Embassy of the lslamic Republic of lran in Zimbabwe, including a closing commentary by Dr Hamzeh Azizi,a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ).
Ambassador Hosseini expressed heartfelt gratitude for all those who were present at the commemoration of the great leader of the Islamic Revolution whom he said succumbed at the hands of criminal American–Zionist perpetrators.
‘Your participation reflects the support of diverse communities in Zimbabwe for the ideals of the Islamic Revolution independence, liberty and resistance against oppression, arrogance, and injustice, including Zionism, colonialism, and imperialism. On behalf of the people and Government of Iran, I sincerely appreciate this steadfast solidarity and pray for a world where all nations live free from tyranny and exploitation, enjoying prosperity and freedom,” he said.
He said those gathered were there not merely to mourn, but to celebrate a luminous life, that of a leader who was a guide, a father and a steadfast symbol of faith and dignity.
The Ambassador said though his loss leaves an irreplaceable void, his intellectual and spiritual legacy shines ever brighter, guiding all who seek justice and true humanity.
He added that for over three decades, the Supreme Leader safeguarded the Islamic Revolution, steering the nation through turbulent global challenges without wavering in his principles.
He honoured four central pillars of his thought which include resolute resistance to American hegemony and Zionism, unwavering support for Palestine, a strategic vision for South-South cooperation and profound compassion for the people, especially children.
Ambassador Hosseini said the stance of the Supreme Leader against global arrogance was rooted in the Qur’anic struggle between truth (حق) and falsehood (باطل).
‘He opposed not a people, but a system of domination expansionist, exploitative and destabilizing. Following the vision of Imam Khomeini, who described the Zionist regime as a “cancerous tumor,” he upheld resistance as a moral and intellectual duty. He demonstrated that a nation can achieve scientific and industrial progress while rejecting external dictates, turning pressure and sanctions into engines of self-reliance,’Ambassador Hosseini said.
He added that for the leader, Palestine was the foremost issue of the Muslim world, as an Islamic and humanitarian cause.
The Ambassador said Iran’s Supreme leader affirmed that Palestine belongs to its original inhabitants and rejected imposed solutions, advocating instead a single state determined by referendum.
He said by supporting the Axis of Resistance, from Lebanon to Palestine, Iraq, Syria and Yemen, the Supreme Leader transformed resistance into a strategic doctrine, grounded in the right of the oppressed to defend themselves.
Ambassador Hosseini said while dominant powers promoted unipolarity, unilateral coercive measures, sanctions and the appropriation of other nations’ resources, the Supreme Leader championed South-South cooperation and revitalized the Non-Aligned Movement.
He said the leader called for reform of the UN Security Council, economic cooperation through local currencies, and the transfer of science and technology among developing nations.
‘He envisioned a multipolar world where emerging centers collaborate for justice, and positioned Iran as a hub for dialogue, development and resilience,” Ambassador Hosseini said.
He added that despite the Supreme Leader’s global stature, his personal life reflected humility and compassion adding that he lived simply, maintained sincere ties with families of martyrs, and showed deep affection for its people, especially children, emphasizing their right to dignity, education, and hope.
The Ambassador added that the Supreme leader saw in every child the promise of a just future.
He said at the same time, the community must expose the hypocrisy of those claiming to defend human rights.
He added that in a horrific act in Minab, an American airstrike deliberately targeted a girls’ school, killing more than 160 innocent children.
He said the atrocity reveals the true nature of the system the Supreme Leader opposed and strengthens their resolve to continue his path in defense of the innocent.
Regarding the Islamabad failed ceasefire process, the Ira Ambassador said he emphasizes that they entered the Islamabad meeting with a position of zero trust.
He added that because their ten conditions were not met, they exercised their right to withdraw from the negotiations.
‘We remain fully prepared for any eventuality that follows. In this context, we express our deep appreciation to the brotherly and friendly government of Pakistan for its sincere and intensive efforts to promote peace in the region,” the Ambassador said.
The Iran Ambassador emphasized that Iran and its steadfast allies in Lebanon, Yemen and Iraq within the Axis of Resistance, after forty days of resolute resistance against an unjust American–Zionist onslaught, backed by certain regional actors, succeeded in thwarting the aggressors and compelling them to request a ceasefire.
He said the ceasefire was accepted in accordance with Iran’s ten stipulated conditions, with even the American negotiating authority aligned accordingly.
Nevertheless, the Ambassador said the Supreme Council of Defense of the Islamic Republic of Iran made clear that “our fingers will remain on the trigger,” and that any violation will be met with an immediate and decisive response.
Regrettably, the Iran Ambassador said the Zionist regime soon committed a clear breach through a brutal attack on Lebanon, resulting in the killing of innocent civilians.
‘This aggression was strongly condemned by Iran and the international community. Iran has unequivocally demanded, first, the immediate cessation of all Zionist aggression against Lebanese territory in line with the agreed framework, and second, affirmed its readiness to deliver severe punishment to the aggressor,” the Ambassador said.
He added that they reiterate that the Axis of Resistance is a unified front and any attack on one component constitutes an attack on all.
He said accordingly, Iran assures its Lebanese brothers and sisters, particularly Hezbollah, that, in fidelity to the teachings of Imam Khomeini and Imam Khamenei, it will never abandon its allies.
He said inspired by the stand of Hussein ibn Ali (PBUH) and under the leadership of Ayatollah Sayyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, Iran remains firmly committed to its solemn pledges.
He reaffirmed their enduring pledge to support the cause of Palestine until the full sovereignty of the Palestinian people over their entire homeland is realized.
‘We declare that Palestine and Gaza will remain at the forefront of the struggle of the Axis of Resistance until this noble objective is achieved,’ the Ambassador said.
‘Though we gather in the shadow of loss, we stand in the light of continuity. The passing of a leader is not the end of a revolution, but a transfer of trust. We pledge our allegiance to the new Leader, Ayatollah Sayyed Mojtaba Khamenei, confident he will continue the path of dignity, justice, and resistance. The revolution lives on, the resistance endures and by the grace of God, we shall witness the liberation of Al-Quds and the defeat of Zionism and imperialism across West Asia and beyond,” the Iran Ambassador said.
On the urgent imperative for peace in the Middle East and Iran, in a multireligious statement, Sheikh lsmael Duwa, President of the Supreme Council of lslamic Affairs in Zimbabwe said at the commemoration evet that senior religious leaders and representatives from the world’s faith traditions, speak with a single heart.
He said as the human family stands on a dangerous precipice, their religions call them to find the courage to be peacemakers and embrace the calling even as they reject the ways that some within their religious communities have and continue to misuse their religious teachings to foster violence.
Sheikh Duwa said the conflict that erupted on February 28, 2026 between Israel and the United States and Iran—now in its forty-second day has already claimed thousands of lives, wounded many more and displaced millions. He said Iranian, Israeli, Lebanese and communities across the Gulf States alike have suffered under missile barrages, airstrikes and ground operations.
“Proxy fronts in Lebanon and Yemen have reignited with fresh intensity, while strikes have targeted military, energy, civilian, and nuclear-related sites. Innocent blood has stained the Holy Land and the wider region. This is a desecration of the sacred spark in every person,’ Sheikh Duwa said.
He added that the extreme dangers remain both immediate and longer-term.
He said homes, schools, hospitals, factories, cultural heritage and sacred sites revered by billions have been destroyed or damaged adding that families across Iran, Israel/Palestine, Lebanon, the Gulf States and beyond bury their dead while ordinary citizens seek refuge in shelters or flee as refugees.
He said a humanitarian catastrophe continues to unfold, risking the collapse of basic services threatening millions.
Sheikh Duwa said escalation risks drawing in more nations and shattering the fragile threads of international order.
He added that the disruption of the Strait of Hormuz has convulsed oil markets and supply chains, threatening economic ruin for vulnerable populations worldwide and strikes near nuclear facilities have raised the specter of a radiological disaster,ecological damage mounts and diminished respect for international law has seriously eroded the parties’ ability to find solutions.
He said in this grave context, they welcome the April 7 to8, 2026 announcement of a two-week conditional ceasefire between Iran, the United States and Israel, brokered with Pakistan’s assistance.
He added that the pause offers a critical window for de-escalation and dialogue.
‘Yet we are deeply concerned that the ceasefire is not unanimously understood as including all parties to the conflict and that active hostilities persist on many fronts.Together, we urge the following pathway to a just and lasting peace,” Sheikh Duwa said.
