Online Reporter
Cabinet considered and noted the report on the Food Deficit Mitigation Programme as presented by the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Honourable Edgar Moyo.
The 3rd Blitz in terms of food distribution commenced on November 1, 2024 and ended on January 31, 2025, with deserving people having received assistance. The Government of Zimbabwe has distributed over 90 percent of the total grain to food insecure and vulnerable households while Development Partners distributed 10 percent.
The 4th Blitz food distribution phase commenced on February 1 and is expected to end on March 31. The Government will undertake the first round crop assessment to determine the likely harvest and the outlook is positive.
UPDATE ON THE NATIONAL DRUG AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE RESPONSE: SEPTEMBER 1, 2024 TO JANUARY 31, 2025
Cabinet considered an update on the national drug and substance abuse response covering the period September 1, 2024 to January 31, 2025, as presented by the Minister of Skills Audit and Development, Honourable Paul Mavima.
Cabinet wishes to advise the nation that during the period under review, 79 illegal drug bases were destroyed, with a total of 9 527 offenders arrested. Of this total, 616 were suppliers while 8 911 were end users. Collaboration with the international law enforcement agencies led to the arrest of three people carrying 23kg of dagga in Zambia. The medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe conducted 117 inspections and closed five non-complaint premises.
A total of 155 421 youth benefited from the vocational training programmes. The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has integrated drug and substance abuse into the school curricula, reaching 7 274 939 learners, while 62 656 students were engaged in prevention programmes through the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development.
The Ministry of Women affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development conducted awareness programmes, reaching 111 537 people. The nation is also informed that the Ministry of Sport, Recreation and Arts engaged 11 836 participants in cultural and sports events, while religious organisations educated 16 759 congregants through sermons and awareness programmes. Entities such as Visionary Cadres Association of Zimbabwe and Mubatirapamwe reached over 2 130 people with drug abuse prevention messages.
The nation is further informed that three new rehabilitation centres were established in Victoria Falls, Harare and Kwekwe. The Ministry of Health and Child Care, Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services and partners enhanced rehabilitation programmes, serving 19 new patients in prison. The private sector and diaspora community are invited to invest in the establishment of rehabilitation centres.
A total of 13 695 people received psycho-social support to assist with reintegration, while 886 individuals were reintegrated into their families; 6 695 parents attended parenting sessions; and 1 161 people were reached through the online support platform. Awareness campaigns were aired on national television and community radio stations, while new followers were engaged through social media platforms.
The Government continues to review current legislation in order to address the drug and substance abuse issue.
MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE AND THE REPUBLIC OF RWANDA AND REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA ON COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF YOUTH AFFAIRS
Cabinet received and approved the Memoranda of Understanding between the Republic Zimbabwe, Rwanda and South Africa on cooperation in the field of youth affairs, as presented by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Honourable Ziyambi Ziyambi, as chairperson of the Cabinet Committee on Legislation.
Zimbabwe, South Africa and Rwanda desire to cooperate in the mutual development of young people through existing bilateral arrangements.
The areas of co-operation include life skills training and capacity development; entrepreneurship development; agriculture, agro-processing, and manufacturing; market development; technology development and transfer; skills development and re-integration programmes for youths in conflict with the law; tourism business development; health promotion programmes; and transformation and empowerment programmes.
Some of the objectives include raising the standard of living for youths and disadvantaged communities, thus reducing poverty; promoting and facilitating life skills training and capacity building for youths for sustainable nation building; promoting rural development based on youth in agriculture; and reducing criminal activities committed by youths, while creating peace and crime-free countries.
RATIFICATION OF THE SADC INTER-STATE PROTOCOL ON THE TRANSFER OF SENTENCED OFFENDERS
Cabinet received and approved the proposal for Ratification of the SADC Inter-State Protocol on the transfer of sentenced offenders, as presented by the Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi.
On August 18, 2019, President Mnangagwa, signed the SADC Inter-State Protocol on the transfer of sentenced offenders. The objective of the Protocol is to facilitate the transfer of sentenced offenders from foreign territories they would be serving prison sentences, to enable them to serve the remaining sentences in their home countries. In terms of the protocol, the transfer of sentenced offenders may take place upon request and with the consent of the sentencing and the administering States.
Ratification of the protocol demonstrates Zimbabwe’s commitment to international cooperation and adherence to global norms and also strengthens its diplomatic relations with other SADC member countries.
THE AFRICA PROSPERITY DIALOGUES 2025: ACCRA, GHNA: 30 JANUARY TO 1 FEBRUARY, 2025
Cabinet received and noted the Report on the Africa Prosperity Dialogues which was held from January 30 to 1 February 1, in Accra, Ghana, as presented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Honourable Professor Amon Murwira.
Zimbabwe attended the Africa Prosperity Dialogues (APD) 2025 upon invitation. The conference was attended by 46 African countries represented by Heads of State, policy makers and business leaders in hybrid format.
Key highlights of the Africa Prosperity Dialogues included the following:
The importance of fostering trade and economic integration across the continent;
Industrialisation and trade-supporting infrastructure to enhance intra-Africa trade; and
Financial and digital trade matters;
REPORT ON HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT’S ATTENDANCE OF THE AFRICAN UNION 38TH ORDINARY SESSION IN ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA
Cabinet received and noted the Report on His Excellency the President’s attendance to the African Union 38th Ordinary Session in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 15th to 16th February 2025, as presented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Honourable Professor Amon Murwira.
President Mnangagwa led the Zimbabwe delegation to the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, which was held under the theme “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent, Through Reparations”. The assembly was attended by 34 Heads of State and Government, two vice presidents, and four prime ministers.
The President participated in the African Union Peace and Security Council meeting on the peace and security situation in the Sudan and the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The President in his capacity as SADC Chairperson, delivered a message that resonated with the views of the council in calling for the merging of Luanda and Nairobi peace process, an unconditional ceasefire, unfettered access to humanitarian assistance, inclusive dialogue, withdrawal of M23 and uninvited forces from the DRC.
The council reaffirmed its support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC. The meeting also welcomed and reaffirmed the outcomes of the SADC Extraordinary Summit on the security situation in the DRC.
Zimbabwe participated in a number of bilateral and sideline meetings on the margins of the 38th African Union Summit.
President Mnangagwa as Chairperson of SADC attended a high-level meeting on domestic financing. The purpose of the meeting was to explore innovative strategies for addressing financing gaps in Africa’s health systems. The President emphasised the need for domestic mobilisation to curb disease outbreaks.
The President met the United Arab Emirates Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and emphasised that Zimbabwe is open for business.
On other engagements, President Mnangagwa met Mozambican President Daniel Chapo. The two leaders reaffirmed the existing excellent Government to Government and party to party relations.
The Zimbabwean delegation also met the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The two countries agreed to resume the Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation in Addis Ababa this year.
