UN urges Zim to recommit to SDGs 

Martin Muleya
CHIPINGE TIMES REPORTER

MUTARE-The United Nations (UN) has urged the Zimbabwean Government to recommit itself to implementing policies and action to attain the 2030 Sustainable Goals Developments (SDGs).
UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Edward Kallon told participants at a Zimbabwe SDGs review workshop in Mutare recently that there is a need to increase momentum to implement projects to achieve the agenda.
SDGs are a universal call adopted by the UN in 2015 to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030. The SDGs are 17 interlinked goals encompassing social, economic and environmental sustainability. 
“The Government should promote economic growth, address climate change and environmental degradation and improve health care and access to clean water. 
“Government must recommit to seven years of accelerated, sustained and transformative action both nationally and internationally to deliver on the promise of SDGs. As you interrogate the preliminary Artificial Intelligence (AI) generated United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report on SDGs in Zimbabwe, there is a need to promote inclusive economic growth. Zimbabwe should prioritise inclusive economic growth that benefits the society and reduce poverty and inequality.
“Address climate change and environmental degradation. This includes promoting renewable energy, promoting sustainable land and water management practices. Zimbabwe needs to prioritise improved healthcare services, ensuring access to clean water and sanitation facilities. This involves increasing investment in healthcare infrastructure, promoting preventative healthcare measures and expanding access to safe water sources,” he said.
The seven pillars of SDGs are no poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation and affordable and clean energy. 
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Simon Masanga, civic society organisations, and Government officials attended the workshop. 
Masanga said COVID-19 derailed Government’s efforts to meet SDGF targets. 
He said they are working flat out to enhance timely and continuous data production.
“We will carry out a summit that will respond to the impact of multiple and interlocking crises facing the world and provide high-level political guidance on transformative and accelerated actions leading up to the target year of 2030.
“As a Government, we are cognizant that the COVID-19 pandemic and other man-made and natural shocks greatly affected the progress that had been registered towards the attachment of Agenda 2030. Thus there is a great need for recovery strategies that address the problems that were brought about by the crisis during the Decade of Action,” said Masanga.