Speech by

The President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr. Frederick J. T. Chiluba

Geneva, Switzerland, 2000

Chairperson; The president of Switzerland; Distinguished heads of state and Government;

The secretary general of the United Nations;Heads of the United Nations agencies; Representatives of international development agencies; Representatives from non governmental organisations;

Ladies and gentlemen,

On behalf of the people of Zambia, I would like to join all the previous speakers in extending our very warm and hearty appreciation to the United Nations for facilitating this very important gathering intended to focus world attention on the issues of social development.

This gathering offers us a rare window of opportunity to think afresh, and create new strategies towards a new world community, free from poverty, hunger and social deprivation,

Because these are conditions well within humanities means to eradicate, if given a sense of purpose and commitment.

This gathering should, therefore, seize this opportunity to deal comprehensively and decisively with the "man made" inequalities, prevailing in our global economic system and structures that have consigned millions of people to abject poverty and extreme privation, while a lucky few enjoy unparalleled affluence.

Neither god nor nature has ordained this order. This is an order created by man through a deliberate process of commission and omission.

Chairperson, in 1995 the world gathered to formulate the Copenhagen commitments which principally focused on eradicating poverty, seeking full and sustainable employment and ensuring social integration. Those principles are still as important today as they were at that time.

However, in spite of the commitment made in Copenhagen, poverty continues to afflict the majority of people in developing countries. Unemployment and under-employment characterise our economic endeavors, especially in the informal sector.

The need for socially inclusive development needs no emphasis. Good governance, the full participation of civil society,

And ensuring that political and legal frameworks are peoplecentred must be the corner stone of our development efforts.

This review and appraisal, chairperson, is taking place against a background of declining terms of trade for most developing countries especially in Africa and dwindling inflows of confessional financial resources. This situation has had particularly devastating effects on Zambia.

Zambia's ability to service her external debt continues to decline thus limiting the capacity to deliver on social development. Zambia is placed in an exceptionally difficult position geopolitically.

We are exposed to sudden external shocks such as regional conflicts, increases in international oil prices and declines in copper prices, harsh weather patterns and financial crises. We need to develop capacities in these areas to enable us to anticipate, prevent and offset negative social and economic consequences through effective national, regional and international strategies.

My country has accorded the eradication of poverty the highest priority. We have formulated a national poverty reduction action plan together with our cooperating partners and civil society.

But our efforts, however, noble will remain as mere visions for as long as the underlying causes of the condition are not addressed.

Poverty in Africa and many third world countries is not an accident. It is the result of a prolonged systemic campaign of emasculation that has characterized our economic and political interaction. It is a relationship in which economic self-interest has overtaken reason and morality. It is a relationship devoid of compassion and empathy.

It is indeed a relationship that builds on, and reinforces inequality and poverty.

Development aid has failed to impact the areas of critical concern in the field of social mobilisation and economic upliftment areas. Aid should ideally focus at enabling the people develop capacities to implement development and social change. In addition, aid should ideally empower the poor enter and participate effectively at global level.

This is not the case, the status core has not only been maintained but continues to be reinforced.

Chairperson, lest i am misunderstood, let me state that my country appreciates official development assistance given by our cooperating partners. We further appreciate the efforts being made towards the achievement of the target 0.7 percent overseas development aid from the gross national product of developed countries.

While it is accepted that a significant percentage of official development assistance is directed toward Africa, it is the nature of this aid that needs to be reviewed.

There is need to rethink the philosophy of aid in order to create a support model that emphasizes capacity building through the holistic enhancement of economic, social and political capacities on new and emerging democracies that are confronted with crisis of expectation,

That result in social crisis or indeed to total anarchy, and national disintegration in some cases.

There is indeed no excuse for the instability that continues to plague the African continent nor is there a rational explanation for its occurrence suffice to observe that economic depravation is at the root of political instability.

Chairperson, despite the difficulties my country has faced in achieving the Copenhagen commitments,

We remain committed, to the policy and principle of social development.

I indeed recognize that internal factors have contributed to the low achievements in social development in Africa but the world needs to focus more attention on ensuring that the external environment is pro-social development. It is my hope and vision that this special session will provide a new impetus towards the elimination of obstacles that have prevented full attainment of the goals of Copenhagen.

Chairperson, it is not my intention to place blame on the international economic system but merely to state possible areas of action for further initiatives to make Copenhagen a reality not only for us but also for our children and their children. My country has in the past had occasion to express the need for a just world order and international financial and trade institutions.

We need to ensure that our world institutions focus on poverty eradication.

If the instruments governing multilateral donor institutions have become a barrier to ensuring the social development orientation of structural adjustment programs, perhaps the international community could consider urgent and appropriate remedial action before these programs become instruments for further impoverishment.

The debt overhang continues to plague many developing countries especially in Africa.

The heavily indebted poor country (HIPC) initiative is a welcome initiative. However for the case of Zambia, it has been recognized that for social development to take place, we need more than HIPC. We need to ease the conditions for HIPC accession such as the length of completion and also consider complete debt forgiveness. This, chairperson will enable us effectively contribute towards our share of the implementation of the 20/20 initiative and ensure that resource mobilization for social development is operationalised. This will no doubt enhance our capacity to address hunger, malnutrition and food insecurity.

Chairperson, the lack of wage employment continues to effect the poorest of the poor. Women and children have been affected the most, thus driving them into exploitative forms of work including commercial sex, child labor and criminal activity.

My government considers the participation of persons from all areas of society to be critical in attaining sustainable development. Persons who are sight and hearing impaired, physically challenged and children in extremely difficult circumstances all need to be part of our development vision. As a result of the marginalisation of women and children in economic, social and political decision making structures, my government has been working closely with our cooperating partners and community based and non - governmental organisations to socially integrate disadvantaged sections of our society. The challenge of social integration continues to occupy the Zambian people but the vision to integrate is clear and moving towards fulfillment.

Chairperson, my government believes that in order for sustainable human development to take place, people have to be empowered. Universal primary education and primary health care are key in this regard.

My government continues to strive to ensure that basic social services are provided to all who need them. This is a long-term goal whose urgency needs no emphasis.

Chairperson, the issue of gender equity is paramount to any sustainable development process. With this recognition, my government has put in place a national gender policy with a view to mainstream gender issues, especially for disadvantaged women,

In all our national development programs. The coordination of all gender programming has been accorded high priority with the placement of the gender in development division at cabinet office. My government continues to work towards the attainment of gender equity in the provision of basic social services and the distribution of income.

My government continues to work towards the attainment of gender equity in the provision of basic social services and the distribution of income.

We are not to renegotiate Copenhagen but to ensure the elimination of obstacles in its implementation through further initiatives. It is my sincere hope that this special session will refocus world attention on the pertinent issues that have impeded social development at the global level and also at individual country levels.

Thank you.