Tuesday, 15 May 2007
ZIMBABWE APPOINTMENT TO UN BODY DRAWS GLOBAL CRITICISM

Zimbabwean Environment Minister, Francis Nhema, has been appointed as the new head of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development, the focus of which is on agriculture, rural development, land use, drought, desertification and Africa. The 26-21 vote on 11 May drew criticism from around the globe over concerns about Zimbabwe’s human rights abuses and economic mismanagement. The US and EU member states opposed the appointment.

Stressing the UK ’s opposition to the decision, UK Minister for Africa Lord Triesman said that the appointment “damages the credibility of the Commission itself and its ability to deal with issues affecting the livelihoods of millions from the poorest countries”.

Sam Daws, Executive Director of UNA-UK, said that this was a “sad and bad” decision. He added that “the use by the African Group at the UN of automatic rotation to put forward candidates for election to UN bodies, regardless of suitability, threatens if continued to damage the reputation of both the Group and the United Nations”.

Click here to view the Commission on Sustainable Development’s website.