The United Nations has picked Tanzania and seven other countries as High Level Support Group in the world to spearhead the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that have replaced the Millennium Development Goals.
In a statement issued by the Directorate of Presidential Communications, Tanzania was picked to ensure that SDGs bear many achievements so that they overcome global challenges including poverty.
“The biggest task these countries have is to spearhead and formulate a global political impetus that will see the successful implementation of these goals,” the statement read in part. The other countries that have been selected include Sweden, Brazil, Liberia, Tunisia, Colombia and East Timor.
The selection of the eight countries took place on Friday evening in a special occasion organised by the Swedish Prime Minister, Mr Stefano Lofven at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
Like was the case of the MDGs, the SDGs have been prepared and agreed by UN member states where the UN is the overseer and they aim to curb global challenges such as poverty, inequality and climate change.
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During the event which was attended by heads of state of the eight countries, they pledged their commitment of spearheading the political struggle of implementing the goals by signing a special declaration.
Those who signed include President Jakaya Kikwete, Swedish Prime Minister Lofven, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
Others are Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, East Timor President Taur Matan Rauk and Tunisia Prime Minister Habib Essid who represented his president. Speaking after the official occasion, President Kikwete said that implementation of the MDGs clearly showed that the availability of funding and an effective monitoring system was the driving force of the achievements.
“It is these two, implemented collectively, which are needed to implement these goals”.
Meanwhile, President Jakaya Kikwete assured the German Chancellor Angela Merkel that all political parties enjoy free and fair campaigns prior to the October general election.
The two leaders met and had a tete-a-tete at the German consul at the UN in New York on Friday. He also told Ms Merkel that the Panel of Imminent Persons seeking to recommend on how the world can better prepare for epidemics is about to complete its task and is preparing its recommendation on the same.
During the talks, Chancellor Merkel wanted to know from President Kikwete how the election campaigns were going and if all parties are given the same freedoms.
