Dar backs Cuba, Zimbabwe at UN
NEW YORK: TANZANIA has demanded the immediate lifting of unilateral sanctions against Cuba and Zimbabwe, telling the United Nations General Assembly that coercive economic measures obstruct national development and human rights.
Addressing the 81st Session of the UNGA on behalf of President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan, Vice-President, Deogratius Ndejembi, voiced Tanzania’s firm opposition to economic coercion and reaffirmed unwavering solidarity with nations facing international restrictions.
“Tanzania reaffirms its position to oppose the use of such coercive measures against any Member State and reaffirms its unwavering solidarity with Cuba, Zimbabwe and all other states that are subjected to such unjustifiable constraints,” he said.
Ndejembi said the restrictive measures create severe hardships and stifle economic progress, demanding their immediate removal.
Expanding on global economic challenges, Ndejembi pressed for urgent reforms to the international financial architecture, warning that high borrowing costs and mounting debt burdens continue to choke development in the Global South.
He said developing countries were striving to accelerate development but continued to face limited access to affordable long-term financing, high borrowing costs and rising debt burdens.
“Currently, when developing countries are accelerating progress, they are restricted by high borrowing costs, rising debt burdens, and limited access to affordable long-term finance,” Mr Ndejembi said.
He said Tanzania’s Development Vision 2050 aimed to build an inclusive and competitive economy through investment in people, productive infrastructure, technology and innovation.
However, he said such ambitions could not be fully realised if the international financial architecture did not adequately support development.
On climate action, the Vice-President said developing countries continued to face obstacles in responding to climate-related challenges, including inadequate financing for adaptation programmes.
He called for existing climate-finance pledges to be fulfilled through increased long-term concessional financing and deployment of new technologies.
Tanzania, he said, was implementing a just energy transition through its renewable energy strategy, including the 2,115MW Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project, 650MW of solar and wind projects and 130MW of geothermal power projects.
The country is also implementing the National Clean Cooking Strategy, which targets 80 per cent of households adopting clean cooking by 2034, while investing in electric railway infrastructure to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
“We, therefore, appeal that climate financing be provided as grants and concessional financing to step up efforts on climate action,” he said.
Mr Ndejembi said Tanzania’s experience in implementing development programmes showed that focused investment and political commitment could turn development commitments into measurable results, including progress in maternal and child health.
He urged stronger international partnerships and adequate financing to support developing countries in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and advancing climate action.
