STATEMENT BY H.E AMBASSADOR KHAMIS S. KAGASHEKI
(MP), MINISTER FOR NATURAL RESOURCES AND TOURISM
IN THE EVENT OF THE COMMEMMORATION OF THE 68TH
ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED NATIONS,
KARIMJEE GROUNDS, 24TH OCTOBER 2013:
Let me begin by thanking you all for joining us in this flag raising event
which marks the commemoration of the 68th birthday of the United Nations.
It also marks the end of the long UN week activities earmarked to celebrate
the UN day.
I am quite impressed with the excellent choices of different activities to
commemorate this day. The choice of putting youth and post 2015 development
agenda at the center stage of this anniversary and holding a debate
involving youth is a commendable initiative. I am equally pleased with the
essay exhibition event. This reminds me of the need to redouble our efforts
in achieving MDGs 2 and 3 both quantitatively and qualitatively.
I welcome the choice of the broad theme the “Future We Want” for this
year’s anniversary. I am told this theme further addresses specific issues
in Tanzania on “Empowerment of the Youth Beyond Post 2015”. The choice of
this theme and its sub-theme for Tanzania augurs very well with the current
global discussions on the Post 2015 development framework.
I commend the Resident Coordinator and the entire UN Country family for the
choice of the theme and organising the UN week, which culminates with the
flag raising today. The UN week celebrations help to educate our people
about the UN and its activities in Tanzania and worldwide.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;
As we commemorate the 68th anniversary, we are fast approaching the
deadline for the implementation and achievement of the MDGs. We are left
with less than 800 days to the deadline. Status of implementation clearly
presents mixed results within and among nations and regions. Generally,
notable achievements in different areas have been made but challenges
remain. There are mixed results in the areas of development; peace and
collective security; human rights and the rule of law; and strengthening of
the United Nations.
The universal adaptation; and remarkable implementation of MDGs framework
though not to the agreed targets and objectives is one of the greatest
achievement of the UN since its inception. This is one of the global
development frameworks that has ever forged consensus from all stakeholders
at national, sub-regional, regional and international levels.
Development issues are no longer a business of government entities and UN
organizations only; It is now a shared responsibility. We have seen the
increased involvement of civil societies, private sector, business people
and philanthropies in the implementation of both national and global
development frameworks particularly the MDGs.
The current status of the implementation of MDGs indicates uneven results
across the world. The African continent remains the region that is mostly
lagging behind. During the on-going 68th session of the United Nations
General Assembly at the Headquarters in New York, the Secretary General
convened a high level special event to follow up efforts made towards
achieving the MDGs.
In the same course, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
partnering with the World Bank convened a side event on “tackling the
unfinished business: accelerating MDGs progress.
These are some of the meetings and events that have been held to exchange
views and explore ways to accelerate the implementation of MDGs.
Undoubtedly, the 68th session has once again renewed the vigor and
reinvigorated the global momentum to accomplish the unfinished business on
MDGs. Countries, UN entities, civil societies, NGOs, private sector,
business people and philanthropies unanimously from both the North and the
South recommitted to complete the task.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;
Prior to these renewed commitments, the Secretary General initiated
processes for the implementation of the outcome of the Rio+20, namely the
“The Future We Want”. He established an intergovernmental open working
group on the establishment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He also
appointed a 17 Member high level panel to advise him on the post 2015
development agenda. The panel which was co-Chaired by the Presidents of
Liberia and Indonesia and the Prime Minister of UK presented its report in
May 2013. He further appointed an Intergovernmental Committee of Experts to
advise him on options of financing for development. These are only a few
areas that the Rio+20 instructed the UN to implement.
It is on the basis of all these initiatives that the Secretary General
presented a report on Follow-up to the outcome of the Millennium Summit
entitled “A life of dignity for all: accelerating progress towards the
Millennium Development Goals and advancing the United Nations development
agenda beyond 2015”. The report outlines successes and remaining
challenges. It points out ways to accelerate progress, the necessity to
adopt new development goals and the need to prepare the post 2015
development framework.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;
While the world has made commendable achievements in the area of
development, it still faces unprecedented challenges in other areas such as
peace and collective security; human rights and the rule of law; and
strengthening of the United Nations. These issues are further exacerbated
by ever increasing threats of terrorism, piracy, proliferation of weapons
of mass destruction and climate change.
Regrettably, lack of sustainable peace and insecurity has continued to
characterize some parts of our globe. Conflicts and wars continue
unabatedly in different parts of the world, from the Sahel to eastern DRC,
Syria to Afghanistan, and other areas. They have caused enormous loss of
innocent lives as populations continue to endure untold sufferings. The
recent use of chemical weapons in Syria as confirmed by the United Nations
inspections team to kill innocent people is rather distressing. The
terrorist attack in Kenya is yet another barbaric and inhumane act
inflicted upon innocent people.
We are hearing that those involved in the attack are from both developing
and developed countries. Those who were maimed and lost their lives involve
different nationalities. What does this mean? It means that we are all not
safe in this world. The attack in one part of the world is an attack to the
entire world. We condemn such flagrant and senseless killing of innocent
people. We condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, as well
as any association drawn between such violence and any religion, race,
community or ethnic group.
The Ad hoc Committee negotiating Comprehensive Anti-Terrorism Convention
must conclude its work. It is disturbing that issues such as definition of
terrorism and scope of acts continue to hold the committee hostage. I am
told the Committee did not meet for the whole of last year because of a
stalement of negotiations. Member States must remember that while we
continue our fight on such issues, terrorists continue to attack and plan
for more attacks on our planet.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;
These challenges affect all segments of the population. But young people
are the most affected. We are witnessing an increased trend of the youth
falling victims of joining terrorists groups, drug cartels and organized
crimes. Although the MDGs is all about development and should seek to
address these challenges but unfortunately the inclusion of youth is
conspicuously absent in the 8 goals while one or two targets focus on the
development and implementation strategies for decent and productive work
for the youth. This requires the current discussion on the post 2015 to
take on board issues of Youth such as employment and empowerment.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;
As I said earlier, the theme for this year, the Future We Want and the case
of Tanzania focusing on empowerment of the Youth beyond post 2015 is
commendable.
The labour market for youth globally remains fragile. The Global Employment
Trends 2013 report by ILO estimates global youth unemployment of 73.8
million in 2012, a rate of 12.6 per cent, compared to 12.4 per cent in
2011. The report further states that the Global youth unemployment has
increased by 3.4 million since 2007. The rise in youth unemployment is
occurring alongside a withdrawal of young people from the labour market,
with 22.9 million fewer employed youth in 2012 than in 2007, despite growth
in the global youth population of more than 12 million. This situation
definitely call for inclusion of issues of youth employment and
empowerment to be given their due seat in the on-going discussions on
sustainable development goals and post 2015 development agenda.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;
In the case of Tanzania, the government is cognizant that we are home to
one of the world’s largest youth population. The proportion of youth
population (15-24 years) in Tanzania has remained between 19 and 20 percent
from 1988 to 2012. Out of every ten persons in Tanzania, two are youths
aged between 15 to 24 years.
On the other hand, the Tanzania National Youth Policy defines the Youth as
persons aged between 15 to 35 years. Statistics from the National Bureau of
Standards indicate that, total youth population is 16,195,656 million among
which 7,932,472 million are male and 8,263,184 million are female.
In terms of gender, the female population constitutes of 51.2 percent while
the male are 48.8 percent.
Youth living in the rural areas are 68.5 percent while those living in
urban areas are 31.5 percent. Statistics indicate that the youth
population structure accounts for 19.1 percent of the population; these are
15-24 years while the category of 15 -35 years accounts for 34.7 percent.
According to the 2012 Population and Housing Census (PHC), the proportion
of persons aged 15-35 years has decreased marginally from 35.6 percent in
2002 to 34.7 percent in 2012. The median age of the Tanzania’s population
is 18 years.
Tanzania like many other African countries suffers from youth unemployment
rate of 13.4 percent. Youth employees aged between 15 and 24 years comprise
only 2.5 percent of total employees in the formal sector showing the low
involvement of youths in the formal sector. Agricultural sector which is
the main stay of most Tanzanians employs 81.4 percent. 24 percent of
youths aged 15-24 years are employed in manufacturing industry followed by
wholesale and retail trade comprising 17.6 percent of total youths in the
formal sector. Another important industry in employing youths in Tanzania
is the education sector with 15.2 percent of all youths in this sector.
Employment of youths is also dominant in mining and quarrying;
manufacturing industry; electricity and gas industries. It is clear that
more youths are employed in the agricultural sector . The inclusion of
rural and agriculture development in the post 2015 development agenda is
therefore critical to developing countries
Major challenges facing the youth today are lack of access to capital,
negative impact of the electronic media and social networks and
competitiveness in education. These are current challenges apart from the
traditional ones which are drug abuse, crime, violence, sexuality and
poverty.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;
In recognizing those challenges and trying to address them, the government
of Tanzania through Mkukuta II recognises unemployment as a key issue and
has set ambitious targets to reduce unemployment rates from 10 percent in
2008 to 5 percent by 2015.
The Government understands the need to help young people to harness their
potential by empowering them to have a voice and to lead. The impact of
this empowerment is huge, positive and can result in benefits for all.
The Government of Tanzania introduced the Youth Development Policy of 1997
to achieve young people’s right to participate formally in decision making
from local to national level.
Based on the concept of empowerment, the government has established a legal
framework that ensures the formation of the Youth Council. The process of
forming the National Youth Council is at an advanced stage. This council
will be an Apex organization which would maintain effective communication
between Government, youths and Youth led Organizations.
The National Youth Council will share the heavy task of implementing the
National Youth Policy. In addition, the government has set up a Youth
Development Fund that provides micro financing credit to Youth Savings and
Credit Co-operative Societies (SACCOS) all over the country. The Fund is
under the Ministry of Information, Youth, Culture and Sports. Since 2007
to date the Fund has assisted over 242 SACCOS all over the country with
Tanzanian shillings 1.2 billion.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;
What future does the Government of Tanzania and its people aspire for?
First of all, Tanzania is part of the world and does not define its own
future. In my view, we all want the future free from poverty, hunger and
diseases; the future where all humankinds have the right to development and
dignity; the future free from weapons of mass destruction such as nuclear,
chemical and biological; the future free from wars and conflicts; the
future free from threats of terrorism and piracy; the future free from
oppression, domination and illegal occupation of other territories; and the
future where globalisation benefits are shared fairly and equitably;
We also want the future where human rights, rule of law and good governance
are respected and upheld by all nations big or small, rich or poor. These
are the issues that will shape the future for the Youth and future
generation. Indeed, and I predict this is the essence of the title of the
Secretary General report on Follow-up to the outcome of the Millennium
Summit namely “A life of dignity for all.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;
I am greatly honoured to express my government’s gratitude to the United
Nations in Tanzania and our development partners for the continued support
to our development endeavors. I take this opportunity to reassure you of
the Government’s continued cooperation.
Before concluding my statement, let me remind you all about the serious and
important operation we are waging against poachers and poaching. We are
witnessing an escalation of wildlife crimes never seen before on a global
scale. An assault on our elephants and Rhinos can no longer be tolerated.
We are running out of patience.
Those involved must be brought to books. This is not a business of small
players. It is has become a big league with big names and famours players.
We can afford to be accused of netting the small fishes while the whales
and sharks are loose at sea. This is our war. It is a war we must win.
Losing cannot never be an option.
Excellencies, comrades, Ladies and Gentlemen;
On behalf of H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, the President of the United
Republic of Tanzania and indeed on my own behalf, I request Mr. Alberic
Kacou, the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System in Tanzania
and the Resident Representative of the UN Development Programme to convey
our heartfelt congratulations to the Secretary General and all Member
States of the UN for the commemoration of the 68th Anniversary of the
United Nations.
Happy 68th birthday to all 193 Members of the United Nations.
I thank you all for your kind attention