Zimbabwe-born Professor Webiston Jokonya made history on September 5 when he declared a new sovereign state in the heart of the world’s waters.

The new state is called the United Republic of Delvin (URD) ​​​​and so far only has 36 registered citizens.

URD originated on what is known as Howland Island, which lies north of the equator in the central Pacific, about 1,700 nautical miles southwest of Honolulu.

It is just 160 hectares in size and is almost halfway between Hawaii and Australia.

It was uninhabited and uninhabited until 2023, when it was declared a country or sovereign state by Jokonya.

Jokonya (45) was born and raised in Hurungwe under Chief Kazangarare, about 70km north of Karoi.

In his declaration speech, Jokonya, as the URD’s first prime minister, said his dream had become a reality, adding that investors were welcome in the new nation.

“The URD welcomes all investors and as the new government, we want to establish diplomatic relations with the global world,” Jokonya said.

“We have an international seaport called Port Howland at the southeast pole and a largest city called Nashville City, where Amelia International Airport is located.”

URD is characterized by an equatorial climate with low rainfall, constant wind and intense solar radiation.

Its natural resources include guano (deposits exploited until the end of the 19th century), terrestrial and aquatic resources.

Guano is a naturally occurring substance made primarily from the excrement of wild bats and birds. It is often used as a fertilizer and is typically high in nitrogen, phosphate and potassium.

It is found where colonies of seabirds live, for example on islands near the coast and in subtropical latitudes where there is little rain, or in caves.

However, the island has no freshwater resources and the new state will work on innovations for the precious liquid, Jokonya said.

The island was established as a National Wildlife Refuge in 1974.

“It is good that investors are coming because we want to build a new nation together,” said Jokonya, who boasts of numerous academic achievements.

Jokonya was born on November 9, 1978 at the Kazangarare Clinic in Manyati Village, Hurungwe in Mashonaland West Province.

He attended local schools under Chief Kazangarare from 1986 to 1994 until he completed his A Level studies.

In 2001, he moved from rural Kazangarare to Karoi in search of employment and worked in several companies until 2004.

He ventured into business courses like Accounting, Electronics, Computer Application, Computer Repair and many more.

He then set up his business as a computer technician at Karoi Outdoor Living Center, popularly known as Tsotsi Complex, in November 2010.

As an academic, Jokonya holds a PhD in Information Technology (GEPEA University, Portugal), a PhD in Physical Education (World University of Sports, Iran), a PhD in Mass Communication (Anjad University, Pakistan) and a PhD in Business Administration.

He is a visiting professor at various universities worldwide.

He came across the uninhabited area during one of his academic research trips.

He remembered how it all started at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I started researching how to start a country or how to start a country to save my family tree from COVID-19,” he recalls.

“I discovered that a country can even be founded by two people who are permanent residents or permanent citizens of an unclaimed country, for example an island.

“From then on, I began research while searching for unclaimed islands in the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean, where I came across this island that I later named Delvin.

“Delvin is the name of my last son who was born during the COVID-19 lockdown period.

“From then on, I started planning strategies on how to start developing this island as a family territory or small country since it was unclaimed and uninhabited until I declared it a sovereign state in September and renamed it URD .”

According to the Montevideo Convention (1933), a state must have a permanent population, a demarcated territory, a government and the ability to conduct international relations.

As congratulatory messages pour in for the new state, Jokonya hopes his country’s economy will soon bounce back and make it a darling for everyone worldwide.

Although Rome wasn’t built in a day, Jokonya’s dream could come true when he moves to the island in January to lead a state whose territory also includes the United States.

“We are running around to acquire a passenger ferry and at least one cargo ship to start transporting some materials for road construction and housing construction,” he said.

“Some investors are interested in the project.”

The first 36 residents registered in URD come from various countries, mainly Asia and Europe. URD has since been listed as a micronation.