Tanzania urges regional countries to intensify efforts to meet MDGs

Tanzania urges regional countries to intensify efforts to meet MDGs

ARUSHA, Tanzania(Xinhua) -- Tanzania on Monday urged regional countries to intensify efforts to meet the Millennium Development Goals. Tanzanian Vice President Mohammed Gharib Bilal threw the challenge in Arusha when addressing the ongoing high-level conference on Millennium Development Goals and the Habitat Agenda at the East African Legislative Assembly. Bilal  pointed out that the deadline for the MDGs was looming fast and countries must boost their missions by including other aiding programs. The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) in collaboration with the Global Parliamentarians on Habitat (GPH) Africa Chapter is holding the high level two-day conference on MDGs and the Habitat Agenda here, an event which also marks the 25th anniversary celebrations of the GPH. "In Tanzania we have the 'Big Results Now' initiative which is meant to speed up our Millennium Development Goals' attaining processes by fast tracking socio-economic development specifically in Water, Health, Education, Agriculture, Transport and Energy sectors as well as resources mobilization," Bilal told the meeting. Hand-in-hand with that, the vice president said, the government is also investing heavily in proper human settlements, urban planning and sanitation in line with improving livelihood among the citizens. He advised the East African Legislative Assembly members as well as other parliamentarians to change their approach from just criticizing their governments and leaders and help solve problems by being responsible and patriotic advisors. EALA Speaker Margaret Zziwa supported the vice president, saying it is time the regional legislators help solve problems instead of being part of them, because when it comes to development issues, the responsibility falls to all. The conference has brought together 150 participants including EALA members and speakers from the national assemblies of Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi,  members from national parliaments in the EAC and the African continent, UN bodies, as well as civil society representatives.

 

http://www.coastweek.com/3634-news-16.htm