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Writes Elvis Dumba
Chinhoyi – Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Hon Marian Chombo, has said there is a need for the acceleration of actions that will ensure the successful implementation of sustainable development goals in the country, which has been hampered by various challenges.
Minister Chombo was speaking during the Zimbabwe Third Voluntary National Review Workshop for Mashonaland West Province on SDGs in Chinhoyi.
“The progress on implementation of SDGs has been negatively affected by pandemics, climate change, and global conflicts, hence the need for accelerative actions by everyone to be able to attain the 2030 Agenda. There is a need to take cognizance of emerging issues such as climate change and drug and substance abuse which are negatively affecting our societies hence the need for collaborative efforts to deal with these issues,” she said.
Minister Chombo said in Mashonaland West, the upscaling of agro-based investments remains a key factor in the economic development of the province through value addition
“The need to upscale the development of agro-based industries remains key to the Province as a strategy to address most of the SDGs such as SDG1 on poverty, SDG 2 on zero hunger, SDG 8 on economic growth and decent work, to mention but a few. This shows that revamping economic activity is key to addressing most of these global goals. The main thrust is to promote value addition of agricultural products and minerals in order to improve the incomes of households as well as provision of stable employment opportunities to the citizens.” she said
The Minister challenged participants to ensure that through the consultations gender mainstreaming and inclusivity of all sectors in the implementation of sustainable development goals success should be prioritized.
In line we the country’s mantra of leaving no one and no place behind, these consultations are meant to ensure that everyone contributes to the development of the Voluntary National Reviews. Gender mainstreaming and inclusivity are a priority together with a special focus on vulnerable groups such as persons with disabilities, the youth, women, and the elderly.”
Speaking at the same meeting, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service, Labor, and Social Welfare, Simon Masanga, in a speech read on his behalf by Provincial Social Welfare Officer Agnes Matowo, said the government is conducting the voluntary national review in all the country’s ten provinces to ensure that the voices of all people in the country are reflected in the country’s Voluntary National Review Report.
Zimbabwe has hosted several programs to raise awareness of SDGs including the recently held radio programmes on SDGs and SDGs Exhibition Park which saw the participation by government ministries, Councils, Civil Society Organizations, Universities, the Private Sector, and Organized labour. Another follow-up mechanism is the Voluntary Local Reviews of which the Municipality of Chinhoyi was among the few local authorities that have conducted local reviews in the country.
President Dr Emerson Mnangagwa in September last year, attended and participated at the 2023 SDGs summit where he committed to the actions that will accelerate the implementation and attainment of Agenda 2030.
In addition, his policy directive for his second term in office is to focus and emphasize on production of results. This shows the country’s commitment to the attainment of the 2030 Agenda.