By Christopher Makaza

Government of Zimbabwe and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) have both announced that Zimbabwe will host the 6th Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFD) in February 2020 in Victoria Falls.

Speaking to the media in Harare today, UNECA Statistics Director, Oliver Chinganya said his delegation had come to Zimbabwe to map a way forward as they make preparations for the forum slated for February 2020, following a discussion that UNECA had with the Zimbabwean delegation at the 5^th Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development in Marrakesh, Morocco.

“We are here basically to launch the discussion and the preparation for what we call the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development which is one of the mechanisms that allows countries to be able to review progress and implementation of SDGs.

“We had a conference, similar forum that was held in Marrakesh this year in April at which Zimbabwe participated and out of the discussion, we had with Zimbabwe in Marrakesh. The delegates that were there found it fit that Zimbabwe should be the next country that hosts the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development. So we are here to initiate those discussions because the plans are that we have this forum held here in Zimbabwe at the Victoria Falls town from the 24^th to the 27^th of February 2020,” said Mr Chinganya.

Speaking at the same press conference, Acting Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Ambassador Pavelyn Tendai Musaka confirmed the development saying, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and the UNECA delegation met with the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Ms Sekesai Nzenza on the 16^th of September 2019. She expressed Zimbabwe’s commitment to host the forum in Victoria Falls aimed at reviewing the progress on the implementation of Africa's agenda 2063 and UN 2030 agenda on SDGs.

The Forum is a good opportunity for the country to showcase itself and its Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP), whose major focus is re-engagement following the country’s years of isolation. The Forum provides a platform for learning and exchange of ideas. All the 17 SDGs will be under spotlight at the 2020 Forum.