Source: Permanent Mission of the Republic of Zambia to the United Nations |

Zambia committed to social development of citizens, says Community Dev. PS

NEW YORK, United States of America, February 10, 2016/APO (African Press Organization)/ --

The Government of Zambia has reassured the international community of its commitment to the social development of its people through policy and structural transformation.

Delivering a statement at the 54th Session of the United Nations Commission for Social Development (CSocD) at United Nations Headquarters, Ministry of Community Development and Social Welfare Permanent Secretary, Dr Davy Chikamata said the Zambian Government was cognizant of the centrality of humanity in sustainable development and had repositioned its national development plans to be all-inclusive and people-centred.

“The Government has put in place policies that focus on creating jobs and reducing poverty and inequality in a sustainable way,” said Dr Chikamata, who is leading the Zambian delegation to the annual meeting. “It is envisioned that this will be achieved by facilitating investments in sectors that best promote employment, significantly increase productivity and contribute to higher and inclusive growth, including the development of the rural areas.”

The Permanent Secretary said, to effectively contribute to the eradication of hunger and extreme poverty in rural households, Zambia has implemented multiple poverty interventions, including the social cash transfer scheme.

Dr Chikamata said the Government has continued to implement the social assistance programmes targeted at orphans and vulnerable children, households affected by HIV and AIDS, older persons, persons with disabilities and female headed households.

He said the empowerment of the low capacity households has continued through the provision of agricultural inputs and training in conservation agriculture, aimed at alleviating poverty among vulnerable but viable farmers.

Dr Chikamata noted the importance of the creation of productive decent jobs.

He said the Zambian Government was amending labour laws and social security reforms to reduce casualization and promote protection against unjustified dismissals.

On the welfare of persons with disability, Dr Chikamata informed the meeting that the Zambian Government adopted and launched the revised national policy on disability, in 2015.

These efforts, the Permanent Secretary said, were meant to integrate persons with disability into mainstream of society for them to fully participate and equally benefit from national development.

“The theme for this Commission ‘Rethinking and strengthening social development in the contemporary world’ is timely and sets the tone for rethinking the policy and institutional framework necessary for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development  and for the attainment of the world we want for the present and future generations,” said Dr Chikamata.  

The 54th Session of the Commission on Social Development – the first session after the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development last year – will focus its deliberations on the critical role of social policy and development in achieving people-centered, inclusive, just and socially, economically and environmentally sustainable development for all.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Permanent Mission of the Republic of Zambia to the United Nations.