UP SDGS PUSH- KAGAME

AFRICA must scale up its efforts towards attaining Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame has said. Mr Kagame, who is also SDGs Centre for Africa Board Chairperson, has noted that the set date for the SDGs-2030 is only a decade away hence the need for African countries to work harder to meet the target.

He was speaking during launch of the Sustainable Development Goals Centre for Africa (SDGC/A) sub-regional centre for Southern Africa Indicative Agenda in Lusaka yesterday

“2030 is just around the corner and Africa is not on track to meet the target, we therefore need to scale up our efforts if we were to attain these goals within the targeted time,” Mr Kagame said.

He also described the centre’s launch as

timely, considering the upcoming United Nations Assembly, which would also tackle SDGs. Mr Kagame commended President Lungu and Zambians for accepting to have the centre in Lusaka. He said the centre would play a key role in providing technical advice and updating statistical data on the SDGs.

And President Lungu called on various stakeholders to participate in the SGDs implementation.

Mr. Lungu said it was impossible for governments to attain development alone.

The Head of State was also confident that the new centre would help the sub-region to come up with home grown solutions to address challenges in meeting the SDGs target.

He called for the centre to focus on agriculture, health and education, which he said were key sectors. President Lungu urged the centre to partner with the private sector to help meet financing needs. At the same event, Namibian Vice President Nangolo Mbumba said the centre will go a long way in operationalizing progress on SDGs attainment.

“Only Africa can bring the new dawn of sustainable development, let’s work together, embrace one another and leave no one behind,” he said.