Delegates of Egypt and Zimbabwe Struggle to Match Their Expectations

Day one of Lifelink Tertiary Model United Nations (LTMUN) 2026 opened with the Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee (SOCHUM) going straight into action. During the introductory session, the delegates of Egypt and Zimbabwe made one thing clear: their expectations were high, and they were ready for the “heat” and heated arguments that come with a serious LTMUN session. Interestingly, the session had a different story to tell.

Despite the bold expectations announced at the beginning, both delegations remained relatively quiet throughout the session. There were few submissions from either Egypt or Zimbabwe, with their participation falling short of what their opening statements appeared to promise. The contrast was hard to miss: the delegates were expecting flair, but they barely added any fuel to the flame.

For Egypt and Zimbabwe, this raises an interesting question about representation. At LTMUN, a country’s presence is not only about sitting in the room, but also about making sure that country is heard. Strong participation allows a delegation to put forward its country’s interests and contribute to the direction of debate.

Perhaps one takeaway from the very first session is that expectations may sound great, but a delegation’s participation speaks louder. Egypt and Zimbabwe arrived looking for the heat, but once the session began, the heat came from elsewhere. With more sessions ahead, there is still an opportunity for both delegations to bring the fire they promised.

Elsie Makafui Fafa Afriyie, Skyline News, International Press Corps (IPC), LTMUN 2026