The southern African country is emerging from a period of international isolation after a power-sharing deal between President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

Responding to questions about the validity of the selection of Zimbabwe AU Peace and Security Commissioner Ramatan Ramamla said Zimbabwe was qualified.

The Peace and Security Council is concerned with resolving conflicts between member states and with helping sort out domestic political turmoil. Other states picked late on Saturday for three year terms on the body were Kenya, Burundi and Equatorial Guinea.

Arch-rivals President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai signed a power-sharing deal in September 2008 that led to formation of a unity government last February and agreed to write a new constitution within 18 months.