Mulambo Hamakuni Haimbe, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Zambia, reaffirmed Zambia’s faith in multilateralism and underlined the UN’s successes in peace, health and development.  But the UN has also been slow to react to some conflicts, leading to serious humanitarian crises, and there is a need for key reforms and “genuine inclusiveness, particularly for Africa”.  The pursuit of these goals “should not be at the expense of the United Nations’ reach and impact on the interests of developing countries, particularly those facing the largest implementation gaps in the [Sustainable Development Goals] SDGs”.  The UN80 initiative must strengthen delivery on the three pillars of the United Nations, he said, calling also for the preservation of mechanisms that function effectively, including the Resident Coordinator system.

The escalation of geopolitical tensions only exacerbates existing challenges and undermines multilateralism, he said, stressing that “a short period of war or crisis can erase decades of development gains”.  He categorically condemned war and aggression, urging all parties in conflict to choose diplomacy over violence, adding: “Instability anywhere is instability everywhere.”  Zambia has engaged in regional peace efforts, including support for mediation and peacekeeping efforts by the African Union and regional organizations.  African nations count on the support of the international community to end violence.  Zambia prioritizes education and health for all.  He urged all Member States and development partners to prioritize health spending as a strategic investment, “because human capital is the greatest asset of any nation”.

Women are central to Zambia’s transformation.  His country is taking measures to enhance women’s participation in decision-making and protect their careers and families.  He called for urgent action on climate change. Looking to the thirtieth Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30), he said: “Let us summon the political will for bold action that safeguards the planet for future generations”.  There must also be comprehensive reform of the global financial system, including financial institutions, to prevent structural inequalities and include developing countries in decision-making.  Zambia is both a least developed and a landlocked developing country, meaning that it must be proactive and self-reliant to be resilient. “Landlocked need not mean isolated and encased,” he said, stressing that these nations can become “land-linked”.