UNGA78: TZ implores world peace
- Mpango drums for dialogue to end conflicts
- Says TZ 12th largest contributor in UN peacekeeping missions
New York, US: VICE-PRESIDENT, Dr Philip Mpango has called upon nations across the world to embrace peace by employing dialogue in resolving conflicts as the blueprint for global solidarity in accelerating Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) realisation and prosperity.
Addressing yesterday an on-going 78th United Nation General Assembly (UNGA78) in New York, US on behalf of President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan, Dr Mpango said escalation in conflicts, wars, political instabilities rooted in geopolitical tensions in some countries erode core principles of the UN in promoting peace and shared commitment for SDGs execution among others global wide eradication of poverty and climate restoration.
“Tanzania firmly believes that the world needs to invest more in dialogues and diplomacy to prevent and resolve armed conflicts. Wars and confrontations must be avoided at all cost because in war everyone loses, including the non-warring parties” Dr Mpango said.
He said the country remains fully committed to work with the UN family in fostering global peace and security to make the world a safer place for the present and the generations to come.
He said as of March 2023, Tanzania stood as the 12th largest contributor among 125 countries in UN peacekeeping missions.
Therefore, he urged the international community to increase support to regional initiatives on bringing peace to war torn parts of the African continent.
Dr Mpango urged the UN to condemn those who participate in fuelling conflicts in Africa either for the purpose of profiting from arms trade or access to bloody minerals.
“Massive production of weapons and skyrocketing military spending on armed conflicts is compromising the promises we all made to the most vulnerable among us (children, youths, women and the poor) to build a prosperous world, leaving no one behind,” he said.
He said Tanzania has strengthened capacity to deal with cross–border terrorism by collaborating with neighbours and international partners especially through sharing of information and strategies.
On the global wide realisation of the SDGs, Dr Mpango said the UN should reform its financing approach to the developing countries by widening the door for them to obtain essential resources like funds to beat the goals.
He attributed the disappointing pace on achieving the SDGs to unfulfilled promises of finance and technology and limited fiscal space in most African countries in comparison to the developed nations.
Nevertheless, he urged developing nations to re-engineer its domestic revenue mobilisation effort by putting an end to illicit capital outflows.
A total of 17 SDGs were adopted by the United Nations (UN) in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.
The SDGs are named in numbers. Goal Number One calls on ending poverty while Number Two calls on ending hunger. Number Three insists on ensuring good health and well-being of people while Goal Number Four calls on ensuring quality education. Number Five speaks on gender equality while Goal Number Six speaks on availing clean water and sanitation to the public.
Goal Number Seven speaking on availing affordable and clean energy while Goal Number Eight speaks on decent work and economic growth. Goal Number Nine speaks on industry, innovation and infrastructures and while Goal Number Ten addresses inequalities.
Others in the total include 11 for Sustainable Cities and Communities, 12 for Responsible Consumption and Production, 13 for Climate Action, 14 for Life below Water, 15 for Life on Land, 16 for Peace Justice and Strong Institutions and 17 for Partnerships for the Goals.
Dr Mpango said in Tanzania, according to the second Voluntary National Report (VNR), there has been progress with respect to SDGs 2 to 7 depicting an increase in food sufficiency ratio, availabilities of essential medicines, decline in under five mortalities, fostering of gender equality, improved water supply and electrification.
He said only moderate performance has been recorded for SDG 1, 8 and 10, saying the country will take concrete actions to improve domestic revenue efforts and capitalise on Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to scale up realisation of the goals.
“We are also prioritising investments in the social service sectors, agriculture and agribusiness, value addition and infrastructure, as well as uplifting of skills for the youth” he said.
On battling climate change effects, he said all nations should take urgent joint efforts on cutting greenhouse gases emission, while strengthening mitigations and adaptations measures.
He urged for mutual transition to clean energy, echoing that the latest Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was an alarming reality that the world is off-track of the 1.5-degree Celsius limit agreed in Paris.
The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change adopted at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris, France on 12 December 2015 targeting on holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 degrees Celsius.
“We call upon warring parties around the world to silence their guns and missiles and give prominence to peace, let’s act together to address the climate crisis and hasten implementation of Agenda 2030” Dr Mpango said.
Dr Mpango also said that Tanzania remains steadfast in its opposition to injustice wherever it is committed and by whoever.
“We stand against the imposition of unjust economic sanctions and other unilateral coercive measures that undermine sovereignty and prosperity for all,” he said.
The 78th United Nations General Assembly that commenced on September 18th is expected to be concluded on September 26, this year.
