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President Emmerson Mnangagwa, in his address to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) last week, said enhanced multilateralism and unity of purpose remain critical in mitigating the COVID-19 global health emergency.
The President’s remarks came when the Seventy Sixth Session was being convened against the backdrop of the persistent COVID 19 pandemic but he said despite the challenges, all hope is not lost.
“The Seventy Sixth Session in convening against the backdrop of the persistent COVID 19 pandemic. However, all hope is not lost. Drawing from the collective milestones achieved to date, enhanced multilateralism and unity of purpose remain critical in mitigating this global health emergency. The hoarding and inequitable distribution with the resultant uneven vaccination patterns across the globe are not acceptable.
“Vaccine nationalism is self-defeating and contrary to the mantra that ‘no one is safe until everyone is safe. Whether in the global North or South, rich or poor, old or young, all people of the world deserve access to vaccines,” he said.
The President said the pandemic has demonstrated the urgent need to build resilient economies and societies that are able to cope in times of shocks and hazards.
“The pandemic has necessitated the need for us to build back better and greener, to emerge stronger. The theme for the Seventy Sixth Session: “Building Resilience Through Hope – to Recover from COVID-19, Rebuild Sustainably, Respond to the Needs of the Planet, Respect the Rights of People and Revitalize the United Nations”, resonates well with the needs of the world at this juncture. Together we can indeed conquer the challenges facing humanity and realize a sustainable future that leaves no one behind. We must restore dignity and hope, particularly for our women, youth, and the vulnerable, who look to us for inspiration and assurance that their well-being and future remains at the core of all our endeavours.”
This year’s high-level meetings mark important dialogues at the heart of sustainable development in its three dimensions. The Biodiversity Summit and the Second Global Sustainable Transport Conference, as well as the Nutrition for Growth Summit, all lined up this year, complement efforts towards a healthy planet.
Green energy is an enabler for building back better and is crucial in the direct achievement of SDGs while playing a key role in mitigating climate change. The High-Level Dialogue on Energy Dialogue on energy sets the stage for exploring viable renewable and green energy solutions.
“As we do so, let us link economic growth with the accelerated transition to net-zero emission for a climate-resilient future. My country and parts of the Southern African region continue to experience the devastating impacts of climate change, ranging from cyclone-induced floods, recurrent droughts and shorter rainy seasons, hotter summers and colder winters.
“This is in spite of the fact that our Continent is the least polluter. COP26 in Glasgow must therefore be about action and the fulfilment of decisions of the past. In addition, concrete financial support is essential to combat climate change beyond mere rhetoric. The 2030 Agenda remains our shared roadmap to achieve the future we all want. For us in Zimbabwe, eradicating poverty and eliminating hunger remains a top priority. Climate change and resultant erratic weather patterns, growing populations, coupled with the effects of the pandemic on food supply chains, demand a shift from our traditional food production, processing, distribution and consumption systems,” President Mnangagwa added..