UN General Assembly opens Tuesday: The 68th Session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly opens at the UN headquarters in New York, US on Tuesday under the theme, ‘Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Other Internationally Agreed Development Goals for Persons With Disabilities.’ In an interview with the ZBC News on the eve of the 68th session, the Foreign Affairs Minister, Cde Simbarashe Mumbengegwi said with just two years before the target date for the realisation of the MDGs, most African countries are still lagging behind. He said the illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe have been a major stumbling block for the country to attain the MDGs with health and other social sectors feeling the pinch. “Despite the obstacles, Zimbabwe has made some significant strides towards the realisation of some of the goals. Zimbabwe is also the most literate nation in Africa with a 92 percent literacy rate. After 2015 when the date of the attainment of the goals passes, there is need for the UN to continue working with member states in furthering the achievements that would have been attained and to work on programmes that would have been started,” said Cde Mumbengegwi. Cde Mumbengegwi stressed the need for the strengthening of partnerships in resource mobilisation, saying as one of the MDGs for developed countries to help others with resources, the western countries have not honoured that pledge. The eight MDGs were effected in 2000 to promote member states in various aspects of development including education, health, infant and maternal health. The UN General Assembly is the main deliberative organ of the UN comprising all the 193 members of the world body. It provides a unique forum for multilateral discussion of issues covered by the UN Charter such as those on peace and security, admission of new members and those relating to budget.
Posted on: Mon, 16 Sep 2013 18:44:50 +0000
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