UNZA DON URGES AFRICA TO RESTRATEGISE
Written by Millennium on August 8, 2019
ANNIE ZULU writes
THERE is need for African countries to strategize and look for ways to revive the continent’s economic growth if it was to achieve the vision 2030, University of Zambia (UNZA) Vice Chancellor Luke Mumba has said.
Professor Mumba observed that most African countries had seen a decline in growth in the last few years.
He said Africa must stand up and ensure the issue was address as soon as possible.
Professor Mumba was speaking during plenary session at the launch of the Sustainable Development Goals Centre for Africa (SDGC/A) Sub-regional center for Southern Africa Indicative Agenda at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka yesterday.
“Growth in the southern region and Africa at large is going down, most countries have seen a decline in growth. There is need for us to go back to the drawing board and see how we can addresses this,” Professor Mumba said.
UNECA Sub-regional Office Economic Affairs Officer, Bineswaree Bolaky, noted that financial challenges was an obstacle to many African countries towards achieving the SDGs and vision 2030.
Ms Bolaky said the vision 2030 was an ambitious development agenda which required proper resource mechanism.
“Financing SDGs is a big challenge, there is need for resource mobilisation,” Ms Bolaky said.
She also noted that the need for Africa to reduce dependency on primary commodities and start producing.
“Africa cannot go on importing, we need to start producing. It’s high time that we started implementing industrial policies,” she said.
And Namibian Deputy Minister of National Planning Peter Van See Walt called for collective efforts towards achieving the SDGs and Vision 2030.
Mr Walt said the implementation of the SDGs was not only for Governments.
“We all need to strive to work with Governments in the continent, we need to be inclusive and create awareness,” he said.
Meanwhile, in his opening remarks National Development Planning Alexander Chiteme said the launch of the SDG Sub-regional centre for Southern Africa displayed the commitment and determination among African countries to act together in pursuit of a shared development vision.
Mr Chiteme indicated that the establishment of the Sub-regional centre would be a step towards increased collaborations among countries the region.
“With only twelve years left to meet the SDG targets, it has become inevitable to scale up support towards Governments, Civil Society, Businesses and Academic Institutions in achieving the SDGs in Africa,” Mr Chiteme said.
