Minister of Industry and Commerce Michael Bimha says inequality between nations makes UNCTAD's mission more relevant than ever as he passes on 50th anniversary congratulations.
The 50th Anniversary of UNCTAD is a time for reflection and introspection. In this period of soul - searching and planning for the future, we must rededicate ourselves to the co-operative, international spirit which inspired the preamble to the Charter of the United Nations. In the Preamble to the Charter, the plenipotentiaries meeting in June 1945 in San Francisco, USA, resolved to "promote social progress and better standards of life (for all) in larger freedom" and "to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples".
It is in this respect that, as a Member State of the United Nations, Zimbabwe reaffirms its commitment to the principles and purposes of the UN Charter relating to international co-operation for development, in particular Articles 55 to 60 of the Charter.
UNCTAD has unique and special place in the United Nations system, as the only conference platform with the permanent presence intentionally designed to maintain undivided focus and attention on the development dimension of international cooperation. We indeed owe it to UNCTAD that, for the last 50 years, development related issues of special and important interest to developing countries have been kept alive within the United Nations system.
Even before Zimbabwe joined the community of nations in 1980, a number of our compatriots were part of the UNCTAD secretariat and contributing to its work. Led by our first Minister of Economic Planning and Development, Dr Bernard Chidzero, who was then Deputy Secretary General, Zimbabwe has continued with its strong tradition of active participation, and contribution to, development co-operation.
The social progress envisioned at San Francisco was not progress for its own sake. Advances in science, technology and innovation (STI) must be put at the full service of all humanity to tackle underdevelopment, poverty, disease, hunger, unemployment and illiteracy.
After 50 years of existence, UNCTAD remains relevant today and into the future. However, despite remarkable advances in STls and attendant phenomenal progress in industrial production, transport, communication, medicine, finance, trade, etc, the benefits are not evenly spread across different social classes and among nations. The juxtaposition of high levels of deprivation and extreme poverty on one hand, and equally high levels affluence and conspicuous consumption and waste of the other, is clear testimony that UNCTAD's purpose and historic mission are far from being fulfilled.
We look forward to the next fifty years during which we hope development will penetrate and reach the remotest parts of the world. Through UNCTAD, the United Nations must be known, felt and appreciated at grassroots, through the combination of local action and global activities that impact positively on lives of ordinary people everywhere. Beyond this well - deserved celebration, the entire membership of the United Nations must join forces and strengthen international co-operation for development with greater resolve. 