SDG Center for Africa

Speech By
His Excellency, Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu
President Of The Republic Of Zambia,

AT THE LAUNCH OF THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS SUB-REGIONAL CENTRE FOR SOUTHERN AFRICA
LUSAKA, ZAMBIA

WEDNESDAY, 7^TH AUGUST 2019

YOUR EXCELLENCY, MR. PAUL KAGAME, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF RWANDA, AND CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD OF THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS CENTRE FOR AFRICA;
YOUR EXCELLENCY, MR. NANGOLO MBUMBA, VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA AND REPRESENTATIVE OF OUR CHAIRPERSON OF THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY;
HONOURABLE MINISTER OF MINERALS OF THE REPUBLIC OF MOZAMBIQUE AND REPRESENTATIVE OF OUR BOARD MEMBER OF THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS CENTRE FOR AFRICA, MR. FILIPE JACINTO NYUSI, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF MOZAMBIQUE;
REPRESENTATIVES OF THEIR EXCELLENCIES THE HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT;
HONOURABLE MINISTERS PRESENT;
OTHER DISTINGUISHED BOARD MEMBERS OF THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS CENTRE FOR AFRICA;
THE SECRETARY TO THE CABINET OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA;
THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS CENTRE FOR AFRICA;
THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE COMMON MARKET FOR EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA;
THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY;
YOUR EXCELLENCIES, HIGH COMMISSIONERS AND AMBASSADORS ACCREDITED TO THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA;
DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS PRESENT;
SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS;
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS;
MEMBERS OF THE PRESS;
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:

I HAVE THE SINGULAR HONOUR AND PRIVILEGE TO WELCOME YOU ALL TO THIS HISTORIC CITY OF LUSAKA, AND CAPITAL OF THE GREAT REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA, ON THIS AUSPICIOUS OCCASION, TO MARK THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS SUB-REGIONAL CENTRE FOR SOUTHERN AFRICA.

THE CITY OF LUSAKA IS SYNONYMOUS WITH THE STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM AND SELF-DETERMINATION IN THE REGION. IT WAS A STRUGGLE THAT WAS SUCCESSFULLY WAGED FROM HERE BY THE LIBERATION MOVEMENTS.

TODAY, WE MEET TO REKINDLE THAT HOPE AMONG OUR PEOPLE THROUGH YET ANOTHER WAVE OF SELF-DETERMINATION FROM THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FRONT.

THE CENTRE LAUNCHED TODAY RENEWS OUR HOPE THAT, YET AGAIN, WE CAN WIN THE WAR AGAINST POVERTY, HUNGER, DISEASE, ILLITERACY, AND THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, AND OTHER CHALLENGES.

THE CITY OF LUSAKA ALWAYS REMINDS US OF THE NEED FOR UNITY OF PURPOSE IN RESOLVING OUR COMMON CHALLENGES AS THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN REGION IN PARTICULAR, AND THE AFRICAN CONTINENT AS A WHOLE.

YOUR EXCELLENCIES, OUR DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, YOUR PRESENCE HERE TODAY RE-AFFIRMS THE ESSENCE OF THAT UNITY.

NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE UNITY OF OUR COUNTRIES AND PEOPLE WILL BE CRITICAL TO THE WORK, AND SUCCESS OF THIS CENTRE. TOGETHER, WE WILL OVERCOME ANY OBSTACLE THAT MAY COME OUR WAY.

ALLOW ME, THEREFORE, TO THANK YOUR EXCELLENCIES, AND DISTINGUISHED GUESTS FOR HONOURING US WITH YOUR PRESENCE AT THIS VERY VERY IMPORTANT OCCASION.

YOUR PRESENCE YOUR EXCELLENCIES IS A CLEAR TESTIMONY OF AFRICA’S DETERMINATION, AND THE UNWAVERING COMMITMENT OF THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY (SADC) REGION, INCLUDING OUR COLLECTIVE RESOLVE, AS LEADERS TO MEETING THE TARGETS WE HAVE SET OURSELVES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS.

YOUR EXCELLENCIES;

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:

MOST AFRICAN COUNTRIES COULD NOT ATTAIN THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS MAINLY ON ACCOUNT OF VARIOUS CHALLENGES SUCH INADEQUATE FINANCIAL RESOURCES.

IN OUR PURSUIT TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS, THIS TREND UNFORTUNATELY IS LIKELY TO CONTINUE, UNLESS AFRICA DEVISES MORE INNOVATIVE WAYS OF ADDRESSING ITS DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES.

TIME HAS COME FOR AFRICA TO ADOPT HOME-GROWN SOLUTIONS TO ITS OWN CHALLENGES.

THEREFORE, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS CENTRE FOR AFRICA IN KIGALI WAS A LAUNCH PAD FOR SUCH INITIATIVES AND WE COMMEND PRESIDENT KAGAME FOR HIS EFFORTS TOWARDS THIS INITIATIVE.

GIVEN THAT MOST COUNTRIES ON THE CONTINENT DID NOT MEET THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS DUE TO LACK OF CONCERTED EFFORTS, THE AFRICA CENTRE PROVIDES AN AVENUE FOR ACCELERATING THE ATTAINMENT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS.

IN THIS REGARD, THE CENTRE IN LUSAKA BRINGS THE INITIATIVE CLOSER TO HOME FOR THOSE OF US IN THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN REGION.

IT WILL BE A VEHICLE FOR FACILITATING ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN GOVERNMENTS, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, TO ACCELERATE THE ATTAINMENT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS.

WE BELIEVE THAT THIS CENTRE WILL NOT ONLY PROPEL OUR ABILITY TO ATTAIN THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS, BUT IT WILL ALSO ENHANCE OUR CAPACITIES TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT HOME-GROWN INTERVENTIONS.

WE ARE CONVINCED THAT MOST OF THE SOLUTIONS TO ATTAINING THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS IN AFRICA, RESIDE WITHIN AFRICA.

THE SUCCESSFUL ATTAINMENT OF THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS WILL REINFORCE THE REALISATION OF OUR ASPIRATIONS ESPOUSED IN THE AFRICAN UNION AGENDA 2063.

OUR COLLECTIVE RESOLVE AS A PEOPLE THEREFORE, RE-ASSURES US THAT THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS, AND THE AFRICAN UNION AGENDA 2063 ARE INDEED ATTAINABLE.

OUR QUEST TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS, YOUR EXCELLENCIES,LADIES AND GENTLEMEN; CALLS FOR PROMOTION OF DEVELOPMENT-ORIENTED POLICIES, AND PROGRAMMES THAT SUPPORT PRODUCTIVE ACTIVITIES, CREATION OF DECENT JOBS, AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP, ESPECIALLY FOR WOMEN AND YOUTH.

AS SUCH, THE CENTRE SHOULD AIM AT ASSISTING MEMBER STATES TO DEVELOPING REGIONAL POLICIES, AND STRATEGIES THAT PROMOTE CREATION OF EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL.

EXCELLENCIES;

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:

I AM GLAD TO NOTE THAT THE CENTRE WILL HELP MEMBER STATES TO CONTEXTUALISE THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS IN LINE WITH THEIR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES SUCH AS AGRICULTURE, HEALTH, EDUCATION AMONG OTHERS.

THE REGION SHOULD BE ABLE TO GAIN FROM THE CENTRE’S ACTIVITIES IN THESE FOCUS AREAS.

FOR INSTANCE, IN AGRICULTURE, WE EXPECT OUR SMALL-SCALE FARMERS TO BE GIVEN THE NECESSARY ATTENTION SO THAT THEY GROW INTO MORE PRODUCTIVE ACTORS OF OUR ECONOMIES.

LIKEWISE, THE CENTRE’S INTERVENTION IN THE HEALTH SECTOR SHOULD BE TO PROMOTE HEALTHY LIVES FOR OUR CITIZENS TO ENGAGE IN PRODUCTIVE ACTIVITIES.

IN ADDITION, WE EXPECT THE CENTRE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE ENHANCEMENT OF PRODUCTIVITY AND HUMAN CAPITAL TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.

EXCELLENCIES;

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:

AS A REGION, WE EXPECT THAT THIS CENTRE WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT BANKS, AND OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS IN RESOURCE MOBILISATION AND DISBURSEMENT. THIS WILL IN TURN SUPPORT NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS.

THIS YOUR EXCELLENCIES, WILL REQUIRE URGENT RESTRUCTURING AND RECAPITALISATION OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT BANKS EFFECTIVE FINANCING TOWARDS ACHIEVEMENT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS.

TO THIS EFFECT, FOR ZAMBIA,I AM GLAD TO REPORT THAT THE DEVELOPMENT BANK OF ZAMBIA HAS ALREADY SIGNED A COLLABORATIVE AGREEMENT WITH THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS CENTRE FOR AFRICA.

EXCELLENCIES;

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:

THE SADC REGION IS KEEN TO BENEFIT FROM THE CENTRE IN BRIDGING THE DATA GAP ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS.

IT IS ONLY THROUGH THE AVAILABILITY OF QUALITY AND STANDARDISED DATA THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO ASSESS OUR PROGRESS IN MEETING THE TARGETS ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS.

I, THEREFORE, URGE THE CENTRE TO ESTABLISH EFFECTIVE COLLABORATIVE LINKAGES WITH RESPECTIVE NATIONAL STATISTICAL BUREAUS NOT ONLY IN ZAMBIA BUT THROUGHOUT THE REGION.

WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT THE CENTRE WILL FOSTER DECISIVE ACTION AMONG SADC MEMBER STATES WHEN ADDRESSING CHALLENGES, IN THE REALISATION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS.

EXCELLENCIES;

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:

AT NATIONAL LEVEL, THE ZAMBIAN PEOPLE ARE DESIROUS TO LIVE IN A MIDDLE-INCOME INDUSTRIALISED NATION BY THE YEAR 2030 IN WHICH VARIOUS OPPORTUNITIES WILL BE READILY AVAILABLE FOR THEM TO IMPROVE THEIR WELL-BEING.

THESE ASPIRATIONS ARE ESPOUSED IN OUR VISION 2030 WHICH IS BEING IMPLEMENTED THROUGH THE SEVENTH NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN RUNNING FROM 2017 TO 2021.

I AM THEREFORE, DELIGHTED TO NOTE THAT OUR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN HAS MAINSTREAMED THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS AS PER THE UNITED NATIONS EXPECTATIONS.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:

ZAMBIA’S STRATEGIC POSITION IN THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN REGION WILL PROVIDE EASY ACCESS TO THE CENTRE BY MEMBER STATES.

THIS GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION SHOULD, THEREFORE, ENCOURAGE OUR COOPERATING PARTNERS, PHILANTHROPISTS, AND CAPTAINS OF INDUSTRY TO SUPPORT THE CENTRE, AS BENEFITS WILL UNDOUBTEDLY REACH ALL OUR PEOPLE IN THE REGION.

THE REALISATION OF THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS CANNOT BE LEFT TO GOVERNMENTS ALONE. IT IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY, WHICH CALLS FOR PARTICPATION BY ALL STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS.

I HAVE SAID BEFORE ELSEWHERE THAT DEVELOPMENT CAN NOT BE LEFT TO GOVERNMENT ALONE, THE PRIVATE SECTOR OR THE CIVIL SOCIETY, BUT IT IS A CHALLENGE FOR ALL OF US.

EXCELLENCIES;

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:

THIS CENTRE WILL BRING ALL OF US TOGETHER, AND TOGETHER WE WILL MAKE THIS CENTRE A CRITICAL ASSET IN THE ATTAINMENT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS, AND THE AFRICAN UNION AGENDA 2063.

EXCELLENCIES, YOUR PASSION, AND COMMITMENT TOWARDS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE AFRICAN CONTINENT IS ADMIRABLE, AND INSPIRING TO ALL OF US.

EQUALLY, WE ARE INDEBTED TO THE STAFF, AND LEADERSHIP OF THE AFRICA CENTRE, THE COMMON MARKET FOR EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA (COMESA) SECRETARIAT, AND ALL PEOPLE OF GOOD WILL FOR THEIR INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THIS CENTRE.

WE CAN ONLY SALUTE YOU ALL!!!

YOUR EXCELLENCIES;

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:

AS I CONCLUDE, ALLOW ME TO PAY SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO THE ZAMBIAN PEOPLE FOR GRACIOUSLY ACCEPTING TO HOST THIS CENTRE.

THE CENTRE YOUR EXCELLENCIES, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IS IN GOOD HANDS, AND WE WILL NOT TAKE THE HONOUR YOU HAVE BESTOWED ON US LIGHTLY OR FOR GRANTED.

I WISH TO RE-ASSURE YOU THAT THIS CENTRE HAS THE FULL SUPPORT OF THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL, I THANK YOU.