The Head of Department for the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in KwaZulu-Natal, Zibusiso Dlamini, delivered a powerful address at the recent United Nations Day commemoration, emphasising the province’s unwavering commitment to the UN’s sustainable development agenda.
By Maile Matsimela, Digital Editor at African Farming
Speaking on behalf of MEC Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa, who was unable to attend because of prior commitments, Dlamini highlighted the critical alignment between provincial agricultural programmes and global development goals.
“As the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in KwaZulu-Natal, we take pride in aligning our programmes with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those that focus on ending hunger, promoting sustainable agriculture, empowering women and youth, and uplifting rural communities,” Dlamini said.
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Collective Effort for Global Challenges
Dlamini said that the commemoration serves as a reminder of shared responsibility in addressing global challenges. “Today, we gather to celebrate United Nations Day, a day that reminds us of our shared humanity and the collective effort required to build a world anchored in peace, justice and sustainable development,” he said.
The department head acknowledged the UN’s historical role since 1945, describing it as “a beacon of global cooperation, bringing nations and peoples together to confront the world’s most pressing challenges, from conflict and inequality to climate change, hunger and poverty”.
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Daily Commitment to Food Security
Highlighting the department’s grassroots approach, Dlamini outlined their commitment to inclusive development: “Every day, through our work with farmers, cooperatives and stakeholders, we strive to ensure that no one is left behind in our province’s path toward food security and inclusive growth.”
Dlamini stressed the importance of collaboration in addressing contemporary agricultural challenges. “We also recognise that progress requires partnership across sectors, nations and communities. The challenges confronting agriculture today, including the impacts of climate change, land degradation and economic inequality, can only be addressed through collective effort,” he explained.
He further emphasised that “the UN reminds us that lasting solutions are born from collaboration, unity and a shared vision for humanity”.
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