United Nations Radio

Economic links to national and global economies are vital to ensure the poor also benefit from urbanization, according to the mayor of one of southern Africa's fastest growing cities.

Cape Town mayor Helen Zille said she looks forward to an era when governments will be able to give the urban poor "the real opportunities they came to cities for in the first place."

"The cities in the modern world succeed to the extent that they link their populations with the nation's economy, and the nation's economy with the global economy. And the city has to get both of those right to improve life for the very poor and to hold the skills and capital, and build the skills and capital, that are critical to improve the life circumstances of the poor and enable all to have opportunities in the city."

Ms. Zille, a former Education minister in South Africa's Western Cape province, is attending the meeting of the United Nations Commission on Population and Development taking place through Friday. She said Cape Town has been "urbanizing very rapidly" because of its "viable, vibrant economy." However, she added, there are great gaps between the rich and poor.

Ms. Zille said while such growth creates challenges, there are also "enormous opportunities" to use urban governance to make cities work for all people.

For UN Radio I'm Dianne Penn.

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