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John Murwira Mash West Correspondent
GOVERNMENT has urged Mashonaland West State structures to fully participate in the successful implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Addressing stakeholders at a two day workshop yesterday for the SDGs, ZIM-ASSET 2, National Investment Policy, Special Economic Zones and Harmonisation of Investment Law, Minister of State for Provincial affairs Cde Webster Shamu urged provincial structures to fully participate in the implementation of SDGs.

“Successful implementation of the SDGs project hinges on the participation of different stakeholders in the province,” said Cde Shamu. Mr Taguma Mahonde who is the principal director in the Ministry of Macro- Economic Planning and Investment urged provincial structures to make sure they factor in SDGs in all their development projects and budgets.

“When we are formulating our provincial development budgets, let us take into consideration SDGS, lets inculcate SDGS in all our programmes, be it when you are formulating your budgets, let them be informed by SDGS” said Mr Mahonde. Mr Godfrey Mkwakwami, who presented on the role of provinces in the implementation of the SGDS, said provincial authorities need to be familiar with the national priorities at the national level so that the province moves in tandem with the rest of the country.

Provincial authorities to be familiar with the focus the ten focus goals and national priorities that the country has chosen to focus in the implementation of the SDGs agenda. Contribution to the national targets provincial structures is key

“The sum total of provincial data on indicators such as population, poverty, mortality, HIV prevalence, actual gives the national statistics, as such it is imperative for the provincial authorities to record all the data for the province,” said Mr Mkwakwami. Mr Mkwakwami said provinces are also important in Identification of investment opportunities.

“Each province has different natural resources endowments, investment to any economy or region in the form expansion of economic activity, creation of employment opportunities enhanced incomes, reduction of poverty. Provincial authorities need to facilitate the packaging investment opportunities for the province for both domestic and foreign investors,” said Mr Mkwakwami. Mr Mkwakwami said provincial structures are also important in dissemination and advocacy of the SDG agenda

“Provincial leadership should embark on a critical awareness campaign of what the programme is all about ,what does it seek to achieve ,how will it be implemented , and who will implement it and how will citizens benefit from its implementation,” said Mr Mkwakwami.