Zambia to transform urban areas

GOVERNMENT will effectively implement the New Urban Agenda, a UN-Member States agreed vision to transform how people construct, manage and live in urban areas.

National Development Planning Minister, Alexander Chiteme, made the assurance when he delivered Zambia’s statement at the First Session of the UN-Habitat Assembly in Kenya. The assembly was held under the sub-theme: `Accelerated implementation of the New Urban Agenda towards achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals`. Mr Chiteme said Zambia like other developing countries, was affected by rapid urbanisation, currently estimated at 42 per cent and projected to increase to 60 per cent by 2050. The Minister said this posed challenges for sustainable management of human settlements hence Zambia was working on measures to address the situation. “Zambia is considering to align development plans with the New Urban Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals and to promote innovative resource mobilisation, such as capturing the increase in land and property value,” Mr. Chiteme said. The United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) adopted the New Urban Agenda in Quito, Ecuador in 2016 aimed at making urbanization well-planned and well-managed for a better and more sustainable future. Mr Chiteme said Zambia was preparing the National Urbanisation Policy (NUP) whose vision is ‘Prosperous, Inclusive and Resilient Urban Settlements’.