Honourable Mulambo Haimbe, SC, M.P, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, on 28 September 2024 addressed the high-level General Debate of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly at the UN Headquarters in New York.
The theme for this year’s General Debate was: “Leaving no one behind: Acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations.”
Hon Haimbe, who was representing President Hakainde Hichilema, underscored that multilateralism is the only viable approach for resolving regional and international challenges.
He noted that the creation of the United Nations almost 80 years ago provided new hope for the international community in the maintenance of international peace and security, promotion of justice and improvement of living conditions for all people.
Hon Haimbe also highlighted that the impact of conflict in some parts of the world had been felt across Africa through disruptions, soaring prices of key commodities such as energy and other inputs of trade and production, resulting in increased cost of living.
At the regional level, the Minister underscored the crucial role Zambia played as chair of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation for the period August 2023 to August 2024.
He observed that the security and political situation in the region remains stable, with pockets of security challenges in some Member States such as the situation in the eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Cabo Delgado Province in Mozambique.
Furthermore, Zambia recognised the efforts of His Excellency Mr João Manuel Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola as the African Union Mediator in the facilitation of the Luanda process aimed at restoring peace and security in the eastern DRC, as well as the Nairobi Process that equally aims at fostering peace in the DRC.
Hon Haimbe said the need for the full actualisation of the Loss and Damage Fund to help developing countries cope with climate related disasters and extreme weather events cannot be overemphasized.
He called for further reforms to streamline the existing G-20 Framework for Debt Restructuring in order to enhance certainty and reduce the time it takes to conclude the process.
Further, Zambia joined calls for the reform of the international financial architecture to make it fit-for-purpose and equitably address the development needs of all countries in the 21st century.
Hon Haimbe said international tax cooperation could significantly reduce illicit financial flows, a scourge that deprives economies – especially those in the developing world – of critical funding for development.
The Minister noted that Zambia, together with Sweden, negotiated a Global Digital Compact, which was adopted by the General Assembly.
He added that Zambia continues to make strides in the campaign to end Child Marriage by 2030 and safeguard the rights of girls by enacting relevant legislation to address the vice.
Hon Haimbe further noted that with President Hichilema being the African Union Champion on Ending Child Marriage, Zambia was pleased to report that the campaign was growing from strength to strength, with 32 of the 54 countries on the continent having launched national campaigns to end the vice.
He affirmed the need to reform the Security Council to better equip and strengthen its capacity to discharge its responsibilities of maintaining and safeguarding international peace and security.