adminJULY 2, 2019
1.0 Attorney General’s Office Amendment Bill
Cabinet approved the Attorney-General’s Office Amendment Bill as presented by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. The proposed amendment seeks to align the current Act to the Constitution by providing for the following:
l the appointment of deputies of the Attorney-General;
l the establishment of the Attorney-General as the Chairman of the Attorney-General’s Office Board; and
l the incorporation of Law Officers and Legal Advisors in different Ministries under the administration of the Attorney-General.
2.0 Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority’s Performance Review and Reform Strategy
Cabinet considered a proposal by the Minister of Finance and Economic Development on reforms for the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZIMPARKS). The proposed ZIMPARKS turnaround strategy principally seeks to address the prevailing state of poor corporate governance, operational ineffectiveness and the sub-optimal utilisation of the resources under ZIMPARKS. Cabinet accordingly resolved as follows:
- a) that the Commercial Division of ZIMPARKS be hived off to a Special Purpose Vehicle in order to unlock the value in the commercial assets currently owned by ZIMPARKS through joint venture arrangements with private sector partners;
- b) that an initial capital investment equivalent to US$11,9 million be injected towards the acquisition of modern anti-poaching equipment, support equipment, operational vehicles, support for National Parks management activities and maintenance of infrastructure;
- c) that the RTGS$21,5 million debt owed by ZIMPARKS be restructured to allow the Authority more time to pay off the debt;
- d) that the necessary legislative review be undertaken so as to, inter alia, strengthen the management and operations of ZIMPARKS as well as to ensure the balance between the need to guarantee wildlife protection and to provide for other competing land uses; and
- e) that the governance the governance structures of the Authority be strengthened in accordance with the provisions of the Public Entities and Corporate Governance Act.
3.0 Report Back on the FOCAC Summit in China
Cabinet received a Report from the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade on the recent Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Coordinators’ Meeting held in Beijing, China from 24 to 25 June, 2019. The objective of the meeting was to review the implementation of the 2019 – 2021 Action Plan. Cabinet expressed great appreciation for the offer of a free grant of RMB400 million (about US$60 million) by the People’s Republic of China towards the recovery and reconstruction programme arising from the Cyclone Idai Disaster. A further RMB6 million (about US$870 000) grant was also extended to Zimbabwe for the acquisition of Forestry equipment.
4.0 Report on the Energy and Power Supply Situation
The Minister of Energy and Power Development briefed Cabinet on the prevailing fuel and power supply situation in the country. The Minister informed Cabinet that during his engagements with players in the fuel supply chain, it had become clear that the sector was still riddled with business malpractices which militated against the smooth supply of the product to the market. As part of the measures to address this unsavoury state of affairs, a system to track the movement and distribution of fuel was already at the initial stage of installation.
Pertaining to power supply, the Minister briefed Cabinet that his Ministry was already working on an integrated power development strategy, amid indications that several investors were quite keen to invest in power generation projects in the country. The Minister is also currently assessing the status of the various energy projects, so that, where necessary licences can be cancelled and new bidders invited for those projects that have not yet taken off the ground.
The Minister was also working on a framework to ensure that the suppliers of liquefied gas sell the product to consumers in safe places and at fair prices rather than the prevailing exorbitant prices.
5.0 Introduction of the Mono-Currency
Cabinet noted with satisfaction that the generality of Zimbabweans have positively embraced the recent introduction of the mono-currency, which had prompted the massive fall of the parallel market rate. Cabinet underscored the need to continue addressing the concerns by various sections of the citizenry through timeously availing the necessary information and the implementation of the necessary supportive and confidence building measures.
Cabinet also calls on the business sector and service providers to be considerate and humane in the manner they peg their prices. It is our common interest to create a competitive and business-friendly environment which fosters investor confidence and decent livelihoods to all our citizens.
Online Reporter