•LUNTE MP Felix Mutati (second right) with Zambia’s deputy permanent representative to the UN Christine Kalamwina (left), at a panel discussion at UN Headquarters. On his right are Rwanda Finance Minister Claver Gatete, UN Under-Secretary-General Gyan Chandra Acharya and Swiss Agency for Development’s Pio Wennubst. Picture by CHIBAULA SILWAMBA

By JULIUS PHIRI-
LUNTE Member of Parliament (MP) Felix Mutati has urged donor countries and development partners to deliver on their commitments to Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
Mr Mutati was speaking at a panel discussion organised by the United Nations (UN) Office of the High Representative for the LDCs, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UNOHRLLS) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.
This is according to a statement issued by First Secretary for Press and Public Relations at the Permanent Mission of Zambia to the UN Chibaula Silwamba.
Mr Mutati expressed concern that the official development assistance delivered to LDCs was lower than the commitments pledged.
“For LDCs in general, we are not seeking for compassion in terms of support, it is the delivery of commitments such as the Montreal Commitment that were made. Those commitments compelled us to behave and change our mindset in a particular way in terms of approaching our development agenda.
“Post-2015 let us do what we commit and that is what is required by the rules of decency,”Mr Mutati said.
The parliamentarian urged LDCs to tap into local entrepreneurship talent which he said was in abundance.
“We have internal capacity which we should not overlook. Let us convert the informal sector into formal sector,” he said.
Mr Mutati said LDCs should foster regional integration and called for the elimination of bureaucracy at borders to enhance trade.
Mr Mutati said improving the taxation systems and establishing facilities like One-Border-Posts would reduce transaction costs for LDCs.
Other panelists at the discussion held at UN Headquarters in New York were Bangladesh Minister of Finance Abul Maal Muhith, Rwanda’s Finance and Economic Planning Minister Claver Gatete and Bond for International Development head of policy and public affairs Joanna Rea.
The panelists emphasised the need to strengthen effectiveness of development cooperation and delivery of development results in LDCs.
UN High Representative for the LDCs Gyan Chandra Acharya and Swiss Agency for Development assistant director general Ambassador Pio Wennubst highlighted the importance of support to LDCs and the need for increased mobilisation of different types of resources and strengthening policy coherence at all levels.