Zimbabwe’s UN Ambassador Stuart Comberbach Dies At 72
Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Stuart Comberbach, has died. Acting President Dr Constantino Chiwenga confirmed the news on Saturday, 6 September 2025, saying the veteran diplomat had passed away in the United Kingdom on Thursday due to cancer-related complications. He was 72.
Acting president pays tribute
In a statement, Acting President Chiwenga expressed deep sorrow at the loss of a long-serving public servant.
He said:
“During his five decades of professional service to the Government, Ambassador Comberbach demonstrated a rare and unwavering commitment to duty. His patriotism was never in question, and he believed that our differences in race, colour and creed only served to enrich our shared humanity as one family in a unified Zimbabwe.”
Dr Chiwenga went on to extend condolences to the diplomat’s family, noting that his contribution had been significant for the nation.
“On behalf of His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, and the First Family, the Government and ZANU PF party, the entire nation, and on my own behalf, I wish to express my sincere condolences to Mrs Comberbach and the entire family following the loss of their loved one. May they take comfort from the knowledge that their loss is shared by the whole nation in whose service he contributed immensely.”
A career in diplomacy and government
Ambassador Comberbach’s career in government service spanned nearly 50 years. He represented Zimbabwe abroad and also served in several senior roles at home.
He was Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Italy and Permanent Representative to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) from 1994 to 1999. Later, he became Ambassador to Japan and South Korea between 2003 and 2014.
He also headed the Zimbabwe Trade Mission and then the Zimbabwe Representative Office in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 1987 to 1994.
At home, he served as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry and International Trade from 2000 to 2003, and as Secretary of the Corporate Governance Unit in the Office of the President and Cabinet from 2014 to 2018.
From 2018 to 2021, he was Special Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
International voice for Zimbabwe
In his most recent assignment, Ambassador Comberbach was Zimbabwe’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva.
During his tenure, he was described as a respected voice in international diplomacy. He advocated for Zimbabwe’s positions and sought to build cooperation with global partners.
He also played an important role in strengthening the country’s ties with Asia and Europe during his years as ambassador.
His death marks the end of a career that began shortly after Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980, when he worked in the Multilateral Affairs Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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