harare24dmin The African Forum for Cultural Diplomacy (AFCD) says it has completed its legal incorporation in the United Kingdom, expanded its continental and international engagements during 2025, and is seeking the release of its president, Dr Walter Mzembi, who is facing legal proceedings in Zimbabwe.
In a year-end press statement dated December 17, 2025, and issued in London, AFCD said it was now registered as a company limited by guarantee in the UK, a move it described as part of efforts to strengthen its institutional standing and international operations. The organisation said the incorporation places its headquarters in London and formalises its governance structure under UK law.
According to AFCD, the incorporation followed a year marked by increased diplomatic activity in Europe and Africa. The organisation said its president travelled to the UK and parts of Europe in the first quarter of 2025, where AFCD participated in international policy discussions.
AFCD stated that in March 2025 it attended the World Forum 2025 on the Future of Democracy, Technology and Humankind in Berlin, Germany. The forum brought together former and serving political leaders, diplomats and policy actors to discuss global governance and geopolitical trends. AFCD said Dr Mzembi participated in a session focused on trade relations between China and Africa.
The statement also referenced Dr Mzembi’s engagements in the United Kingdom, which AFCD said included visits to the British Parliament, the House of Lords and the Commonwealth Secretariat. According to the organisation, discussions touched on the Marlborough Dialogue framework, which it linked to efforts advocating for Zimbabwe’s readmission into the Commonwealth. These positions were presented as AFCD’s perspective on regional diplomacy rather than as outcomes endorsed by the institutions mentioned.
AFCD further said its president engaged with Chatham House and several diplomatic missions in London, including representatives from Mozambique. The organisation attributed a subsequent political interaction between Mozambican political actors to dialogue processes it claims to have supported, though no independent confirmation was provided in the statement.
Beyond Europe, AFCD reported involvement in major cultural and diplomatic events on the African continent. The organisation said that in September 2025 it signed a memorandum of understanding with FESTAC and participated in FESTAC Africa 2025 in Ghana. The event was held under the theme “Uniting Africa through Culture, Creativity, and Collaborations for Sustainable Growth”.
AFCD described FESTAC as a major Pan-African arts and culture festival and said its participation included plenary sessions addressing culture-led development and African unity. The organisation also referenced discussions on the legacy of Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah, within the broader context of Pan-Africanism.
In October 2025, AFCD said it attended the official launch of the League of African Ambassadors at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka, Zambia. The event was held under the patronage of Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, who was represented by Foreign Affairs Minister Mulambo Haimbe. AFCD stated that it delivered a solidarity message calling for cooperation, cultural exchange and collaboration to advance Africa’s interests.
The statement also highlighted challenges facing the organisation, focusing in particular on the arrest and detention of Dr Mzembi in Zimbabwe. AFCD said its president is facing charges it believes undermine diplomatic immunity, a position it attributed to the organisation’s own legal interpretation.
AFCD called for Dr Mzembi’s unconditional release and expressed concern about his health, stating that it has fluctuated during his detention. The organisation also said it was concerned by what it described as a lack of responsiveness from Zimbabwean authorities. These assertions were presented as AFCD’s views and were not accompanied by comment from the Zimbabwean government or judicial authorities.
According to the statement, Dr Mzembi’s trial is scheduled for January 2026. AFCD said it expects the legal process to result in his vindication and allow him to resume diplomatic initiatives across Africa. No details were provided in the statement regarding the specific charges or the prosecution’s position.
The developments outlined by AFCD touch on broader debates about the role of non-state actors in diplomacy, the use of cultural platforms in international relations, and the legal status of individuals claiming diplomatic roles outside formal state appointment. The organisation’s activities also intersect with ongoing regional discussions on governance, political reconciliation and Africa’s engagement with global powers.
AFCD’s call for Dr Mzembi’s release adds to a pattern of regional and international advocacy by organisations seeking legal and diplomatic remedies for detained political figures, though outcomes in such cases typically depend on domestic legal processes.
Looking ahead, AFCD says it intends to continue its diplomatic and cultural engagements from its UK base while monitoring the legal proceedings involving its president. The organisation indicated that January 2026 will be a critical period, with court proceedings in Zimbabwe expected to determine the immediate future of Dr Mzembi’s role. AFCD also signalled plans to deepen partnerships with cultural and diplomatic institutions in Africa and Europe as it enters the next phase of its operations.
