Africa still faces low land implementation: Shiweda
The deputy minister was speaking at the 12th Conference of Ministers Responsible for the Activities of the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resource for Development in Uganda’s capital, Kampala on Tuesday. The deputy minister added that due to climate change and natural calamities such as recurrent droughts and floods in Africa, the mapping and…
SWAKOPMUND, 23 NOV (NAMPA) – Many African surveying and mapping organisations are challenged by slow implementation of land management and land reform policies geared towards economic emancipation, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Land Reform Anna Shiweda has said.
The deputy minister was speaking at the 12th Conference of Ministers Responsible for the Activities of the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resource for Development (RCMRD) in Uganda’s capital, Kampala on Tuesday.
Shiweda, in her statement availed to Nampa, noted that it is imperative for RCMRD member states to continuously monitor and evaluate the implementation of planned activities and the impact of the knowledge imparted by the centre through its various capacity building courses in geospatial fields, as well as the various technical support activities.
“We believe that an effective and stronger centre will be in a better position to facilitate and guarantee the achievement of the intended objective, namely that of an enhanced regional and national capacity to map and quantify resources for socio-economic development and advancement of our respective regions and countries,” she said.
The deputy minister added that due to climate change and natural calamities such as recurrent droughts and floods in Africa, the mapping and quantification of resources is crucial as it will lead to informed decisions that will result in equitable distribution, sustainable management, exploitation and utilisation of resources.
“In addition, the mapping and quantification of our resources will strengthen the ability of our countries to contribute towards the achievement of the United Nations Global Sustainable Development Goals and also, to contribute to the attainment of the continental goals contained in Agenda 2063 of the African Union,” Shiweda stated.
She added that it is therefore critical to build institutional and professional capacity at regional and national levels to enable scientists and technical experts to locate, quantify and map out resources and translate the collected data into workable and user-friendly information that can facilitate policy decision-making processes.
Shiweda reaffirmed Namibia’s commitment to the operations and functioning of the centre and said the country remains committed to its annual membership contributions and collaboration.
(NAMPA)
IB/AS
