Staff reporter
Zimbabwe has made significant and notable progress in fulfilling its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with little to no assistance from the international community, Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Paul Mavhima briefed cabinet yesterday.
With special emphasis on the SDGs under review for 2021, Minister Mavhima presented his Second Voluntary National Review.
“SDGs under review for 2021 are goals 1 on no poverty, 2 on zero hunger, 3 on good health and well-being, 8 on decent work and economic growth, 10 on reduced inequalities, 12 on responsible consumption and production, 13 on climate action, 16 on peace, justice and strong institutions, and 17 on partnerships.”
Mavhima applauded the Government for localising and internalising the SDGs as the push factor to achieving Vision2030.
“Also Progress has been recorded in reducing all forms of violence and related deaths. This has been achieved through alignment of laws to the Constitution, improved inclusive access to justice and creation of new laws that promote human rights. The public is advised that improved agricultural production and productivity is addressing Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2, 5 and 8 through increased agricultural output, incomes, participation of women and throughout from agriculture to agro-processing industries.
“Furthermore, progress has been made towards Universal health coverage through sustained investment in public health infrastructure, equipment, capacitation of human resources for health, procurement and distribution of medicines and sundries as well as development and review of health related legal and policy frameworks,” Mavhima said
Highlighting on gender equality, the Minister added that, “Gender has been mainstreamed in most of the country’s legislative frameworks, policies and empowerment programmes which has resulted in increased participation in politics and decision making as well as access to productive and financial resources by women.”
Meanwhile, a High Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development will be held from 6 to 15 July 2021. The theme of the 2021 Forum is “Sustainable and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic that promotes the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development; building an inclusive and effective path for the achievement of the 2030 Agenda in the context of the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development”.
