Online Reporter
Sikhanyisiwe Ncube
ZIMBABWE and Mozambique have been elected to serve on the executive board of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) for the 2025 to 2029 term.
The two countries will represent the continent’s Southern region.
The election took place during the Resumed Second Session of the UN-Habitat Assembly, which ran from May 29 to 30, in Nairobi, Kenya.
The executive board, which consists of 36 member states, acts as the second tier in UN-Habitat’s three-tier governance structure.
Germany will chair the board during this period.
The distribution of seats on the board is as follows: 10 for African states, eight for Asia-Pacific states, four for Eastern European states, six for Latin American and Caribbean states and eight for Western European and other states.
The board plays a vital role in strengthening oversight, accountability and transparency of UN-Habitat’s operations.
Its meetings typically focus on financial, budgetary and administrative matters, alongside receiving updates on the organisation’s work programme and the implementation of the strategic plan and resolutions adopted by the Assembly.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Assembly following Zimbabwe’s nomination, National Housing and Social Amenities Minister Zhemu Soda expressed gratitude for the opportunity.
“On behalf of His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, I would like to thank the Assembly for this nomination,” he said.
“It provides Zimbabwe with a valuable platform to contribute to global decisions on human settlements.”
Minister Soda further pledged Zimbabwe’s commitment to collaborate closely with fellow board members, UN-Habitat and member states to advance quality and affordable housing for all.
During the session, the Assembly also adopted the draft strategic plan for 2026–2029 following a successful vote.
The plan’s development was guided by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the New Urban Agenda and previous UN-Habitat Assembly resolutions.
The strategic plan addresses the urgent global challenge of housing inadequacy, which according to UN-Habitat affects an estimated 2,8 billion people worldwide.
It highlights the critical need for the transformation of informal settlements and slums, where 24,8 percent of the global urban population – approximately 1,12 billion people – reside as of 2022.
This number is projected to rise to 3 billion by 2050.
Online Reporter