23% of the rural population in Zimbabwe is extremely poor - UN

United Nations Development Programme has indicated that 76% of the Zimbabwe rural population is poor while 23% is extremely poor.

Resident co-ordinator Bishow Parajuli says poverty and hunger remain a critical challenge.

"There remains an unfinished business. In Zimbabwe, just like many others, poverty and hunger remain critical development challenges.

"In Zimbabwe, 76% of the rural population is poor while 23% is extremely poor. Despite some progress made, maternal mortality at 614 per 100 000 live births is still a significant issue. HIV and Aids is at 14%, which is still very high," he said.

Parajuli said Zimbabwe had made significant progress in some MDGs that include achieving the target on reducing HIV and Aids cases, reducing maternal mortality by one-third, increasing child immunisation to 69% and maintaining primary school attendance at a high level of 94%.

"It is amidst these developments that the quest to end poverty and transform the world to better meet human needs, while protecting our environment, ensuring peace and realising human rights through the new post-2015 development agenda has begun. The SDG are being formulated through an unprecedented consultative process," he said.