This article is focused on the following UN Sustainable Development Goal:
Can the UN manage to help Zimbabweans eradicate poverty?
Zimbabwe is a country that has always been admired for its stunning landscapes, cultural heritage, and amazing food. Unfortunately, poverty is also something that commonly comes to mind when one thinks of this country. Zimbabwe is a country that has experienced its fair share of economic challenges over the years, and that has left the population financially devastated. United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 1 (“No Poverty”) may be the key to a reduced poverty rate in the country. It is incredibly important to understand the systematic complexity of poverty in Zimbabwe, as well as fully understand the first UN SDG as this could lead to an improved quality of life for Zimbabweans and foreigners alike.
Systemic Poverty In Zimbabwe:
Ever since Zimbabwe became an independent country, poverty has been an issue. Generally speaking, national poverty in Zimbabwe stems from economic pressures and many external factors. According to The European Journal of Social Sciences:
“...the acute causes of poverty in Zimbabwe include corruption, high unemployment rates, underperforming banking system, lack of foreign investment, underperforming industries and poor infrastructure” (Ephraim et. al 1).
This quote suggests that external forces keep driving Zimbabwe’s economy into the ground. Moreover, according to the Borgen Project, an influential organization that works to end global poverty:
To understand the causes of poverty in Zimbabwe, the poor performance of the country’s manufacturing industry must also be explored. Manufacturing surveys estimate that industrial capacity utilization decreased from 57 percent in 2011 to 36.3 percent in 2014. This is mainly because of an erratic power supply, a lack of capital, higher input costs, antiquated machinery, and deficiencies in infrastructure (Quinn 1)
The quote above suggests that the poor performance of the manufacturing industry has had a significant impact on the country's economy. A decline in manufacturing capacity utilization reflects economic challenges that can contribute to poverty, as manufacturing plays a crucial role in creating jobs and generating income. It also implies that the industry would have faced numerous economic constraints, due to the lack of capital and outdated machinery mentioned in the quote. These constraints hindered the competition in the manufacturing industry and took away potential income for businesses and families alike.
What does SDG 1 do?
In this article, the first UN SDG has been mentioned as a way to help Zimbabweans eradicate poverty in their country. Although, that begs the question of how. According to the Joint SDG Fund, an instrument of the UN that is dedicated to forming strategies and achieving goals:
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a bold commitment to finish what we started and end poverty in all forms and dimensions by 2030. To achieve the SDGs, we must target those living in vulnerable situations, increase access to basic resources and services, and support communities affected by conflict and climate-related disasters (Joint SDG Fund 2)
Challenges Ahead
Although UN officials in Zimbabwe are working tirelessly to ensure that this SDG can be applied, they face a unique host of challenges that need to be addressed before SDG1 can be implemented, such as but not limited to:
Economic instability
Political uncertainty
Nationwide access to healthcare and education
It is important to address these issues to improve the quality of life for all Zimbabweans, and to ensure that SDG1 can be swiftly and properly implemented in Zimbabwe.
Conclusion
The pursuit of SDG 1 stands at the core of Zimbabwe's vision for sustainable development. Despite the formidable challenges, UN officials in and with Zimbabwe work relentlessly to make sure that these goals are implemented in an orderly fashion.
Remember, change starts with you.
Works Cited
Amy. “Causes of Poverty in Zimbabwe.” The Borgen Project, 21 Mar. 2018, borgenproject.org/causes-of-poverty-in-zimbabwe/.
Bird, Kate, and Andrew Shepherd. “Chronic Poverty in Semi-Arid Zimbabwe.” SSRN Electronic Journal, 2003, https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1754460. Accessed 27 Dec. 2019.
dpicampaigns. “Goal 1: End Poverty in All Its Forms Everywhere.” United Nations Sustainable Development, www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/poverty/#:~:text=Eradicating%20extreme%20poverty%20for%20all.
“Goal 1: No Poverty.” Goal 1: No Poverty | Joint SDG Fund, www.jointsdgfund.org/sustainable-development-goals/goal-1-no-poverty#:~:text=In%20order%20to%20achieve%20the.
Human Rights Watch. “Zimbabwe: Events of 2022.” Human Rights Watch, 12 Jan. 2023, www.hrw.org/world-report/2023/country-chapters/zimbabwe.
Itai Kabonga. NGOs and Poverty Reduction in Zimbabwe: Challenges and the Way Forward. Vol. 3, no. 6, 27 May 2023, https://doi.org/10.1007/s43545-023-00678-8.
Phiri, Munyaradzi, et al. “POVERTY in ZIMBABWE: A CRITICAL REVIEW.” European Journal of Social Sciences Studies, vol. 5, no. 5, 16 Sept. 2020, oapub.org/soc/index.php/EJSSS/article/view/901/1485, https://doi.org/10.46827/ejsss.v5i5.901.
“Sustainable Development Goal 1: No Poverty | United Nations in Zimbabwe.” Zimbabwe.un.org, zimbabwe.un.org/en/sdgs/1.
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