Zim lands top UNESCO post

Herald Reporter
Zimbabwe was yesterday elected into the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)’s Headquarters Committee, a powerful body that makes key decisions in the running of the international organisation.

The country is also set to win another seat in the UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee after all countries in Southern Africa resolved not to take part in the polls. The results of the elections for World Heritage Committee members will be announced next week.

The Deputy Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development, Dr Godfrey Gandawa, who is representing Zimbabwe at UNESCO’s 38th General Conference in Paris, France, yesterday said the country got overwhelming support to grab the seat.

“We have won a seat in the Headquarters Committee and we are now a member of this powerful committee. We want to get into both the Headquarters Committee and the World Heritage Committee. The results of the World Heritage Committee will be out next week. We are sure of getting a seat because countries in Southern Africa did not contest because they felt that we have many world heritage sites,” he said.

Deputy Minister Gandawa, who is leading the Zimbabwe delegation, said the Headquarters Committee was responsible for running the affairs of the UNESCO in member countries.

“By being a member of this committee, Zimbabwe will have a say in the decision making process by the world body. Being a member will help us be part of the agenda setting team in such areas as education and the Information Communication Technologies. By being a member of the Headquarters Committee, it means you are being prepared to take leadership in the Executive Committee,” he said.

Zimbabwe will be a member of the Headquarters Committee for the next four years after which the country will chose to contest for a seat in the Executive Committee or not.

The Executive Committee is UNESCO’s supreme decision making body that reports to the General Conference.

“We are being prepared to get into the Executive Committee,” said Deputy Minister Gandawa.

Botswana lost a seat in the Executive Committee after being defeated by South Africa during the conference that began on November 3 and ends on the 18th.