Availability of potable water requisite for cholera containment

8th POST CABINET Press briefing of session 11 of the Second Republic November 15, 2023

 

1. The Government Experiences Exchange Programme Workshop For Ministers, Deputy Ministers And Permanent Secretaries

The Minister of State for Presidential Affairs in the Office of the President and Cabinet informed Cabinet that the Government will be hosting a delegation from the Office of His Royal Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid AI Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai UAE. The delegation is coming under the auspices of Memorandum of Understanding on Improvement and Development of Government Services signed between Zimbabwe and the UAE in February this year. A major part of MoU is the Government Experience Exchange Programme under which Zimbabwe has agreed to focus nine areas of reform known as Workstreams.

2. Report on The Responsible Mining Audit

Cabinet received and adopted a Report on the Responsible Mining Audit as presented by the Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Honourable Zhemu Soda.

The nation is being informed that His Excellency, the President launched a Responsible Mining Audit on 11 May 2023 aimed at ensuring that all mining operations are conducted in compliance with the country’s laws. The audit was conducted in eight of the country’s provinces namely: Mashonaland Central, Midlands, Masvingo, Manicaland, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Mashonaland West, and Mashonaland East. The audit managed to cover 422 mining sites/locations in these provinces.

The nation is being informed that large scale mines, with at least 1 000 employees, are to a large extent, complying with mining laws, environmental laws, Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, Immigration, labour and energy regulations. There are however isolated cases where immigration laws are being violated.

Regarding Small Scale Mines, with a labour force of up to 200 employees, the audit established that most of them are not complying with the legal transportation and licensing issues.

The nation is being informed that in all the identified transgressions,  corrective action is by taken including the following: imposition of fines; confiscation of explosives; suspensions from operating licences; cautions with instructions to regularise within a stipulated time-frame.  The Responsible Mining Audit came up with a number of useful recommendations which Government is implementing and the Interministerial Committee should continue to develop other solutions.

3. Report on the Harare Metropolitan Province Emergency Solid Waste Management Programme

Cabinet received a second update on the Harare Metropolitan Province Emergency Solid Waste Management Programme as presented by the Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Honourable Mangaliso Ndlovu.

The nation is being informed that the Emergency Solid Waste Management Programme is a response to the deplorable state of management in the Harare Metropolitan Province. Treasury released the first tranche of the scheduled three equal releases of US$700 000 on 23rd October 2023. As at 8 November 2023, a cumulative total of 1 083 illegal dumps had been cleared, translating to 54% of the target. The main focus in the next six weeks will be to clear all remaining dumps. The target is to clear the following waste dumps: 10 per day in Harare; 9 per day in Chitungwiza; 2 per day in Epworth; and 2 per day in Ruwa.

The nation is being informed that Government has directed CMED to assess all trucks, tippers, tractors and compactors in the four local authorities that require repairs with a view to cutting down the costs of hiring equipment. CMED has since identified the vehicles and will be incorporated in the existing fleet. The Environmental Management Authority (EMA) has transferred finances to CMED for the repairs that should be completed within one week. EMA and the Taskforce team have developed a schedule of solid waste collection in most communities, which will be implemented from 13 November 2023. The target is to collect solid waste at least once per week at each household.

The nation is advised that CMED is in the process of opening access roads in informal and formal communities which are inaccessible for the collection of waste. All local authorities have been directed to ring-fence funds levied for waste collection, and the funds be utilised for that purpose. The same local authorities have been further directed to ensure that each business premise has a bin, and that the frontages of the premises are kept clean.

4. Report on the Saudi-African Summit

Cabinet received a report on the Saudi – African Summit as presented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Honourable Dr. Fredrick Shava.

The nation is being informed that His Excellency the President, Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa led a Zimbabwean delegation to the First Saudi-Africa Summit hosted by the King of Saudi Arabia, His Highness Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud from 9 – 12 November 2023. A total of 54 African countries were represented, with 23 at Heads of State and Government level.

The nation is being informed that several issues of mutual concern were discussed with respect to economic ties, food security, counter-terrorism, and combating extremism, humanitarian and health issues, and cultural cooperation. More than 50 Cooperation Agreements in the fields of political, economic, social and development were signed between Saudi Arabia and African countries. Saudi Arabia pledged US$50 billion towards Africa’s Economic Development over the next 7 years.

The nation is further informed that His Excellency the President held meetings with the following: President Nyusi of Mozambique; the Minister of Investment of Saudi Arabia, Honourable Khalid Al-Falih; and 10 Saudi companies interested in investing in Zimbabwe.

5. Report on the 3RD Inter-Africa Trade Fair

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Honourable Dr. Fredrick Shava reported on the 3rd Intra- African Trade Fair held in Cairo, Egypt from 9 to 15 November 2023.

The nation is being informed that His Excellency the President led a delegation to the Fair, whose objective was to create avenues to harness trade and investment opportunities through the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).  Zimbabwe, Egypt, Botswana, Malawi, Benin, Chad and two financial institutions (Afreximbank and Arise Integrated Industrial Platforms) signed the Export Agriculture for Food Security Initiative. Afreximbank is committing billions to boost production, processing and intra-African trade in agricultural products and Zimbabwe is expected to benefit from the fund.

The nation is further informed that His Excellency the President held the following bilateral meetings where issues of mutual interest were discussed: with his counterpart, His Excellency El Sisi, the President of Egypt; Chairman and CEO of Evergreen Private Limited, Dr Adel Almuslimany; and the President of Afreximbank, Professor Benedict Oramah. His Excellency the President also had a successful, well attended and interactive engagement with the Zimbabwean diaspora living in Egypt.

6. Update on Cholera

Cabinet received an update on cholera as presented by the Minister of Health and Childcare, Honourable Dr Douglas Mombeshora.

The nation is being informed that the Minister of Health and Childcare after noting that 80% of the 90 new cholera cases reported in Harare were in Kuwadzana, visited the area accompanied by the Mayor of Harare, the Director of Harare City Health, and an Engineer in the Department of Refuse Collection to get first-hand information. The team observed that: residents are not getting potable water as council was failing to pump adequate water at Morton Jeffrey Waterworks.  Harare City Council is failing to manage the challenges.

The nation is advised that Cabinet has directed as follows:

1. a) that clean water be availed to the residents to reduce cholera incidences;
2. b) that the Civil Protection Act be activated to fight the disease; and
3. c) Central Government/ Media take tours to analyse the situation continuously.

 

7. Mining, Engineering And Transport (MINE ENTRA) Expo

The Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Honourable Zhemu Soda reported on the Mining, Engineering and Transport (Mine Entra) which was held from 1 – 3 November, 2023 at ZITF, Bulawayo. The Mine Entra was held under the theme: Accelerating Economic Growth through Mineral Beneficiation. The nation is informed that this exhibition was vital in promoting local and international investment as well as clarifying the needs of the Ministry Mines and Mining Development’s clients.

8. Report On The 3RD 100-Day Cycle Projects Of 2023

Cabinet received reports on progress made in the implementation of priority projects for the 3rd 100-Day Cycle of 2023, as presented by the Ministers of Industry and Commerce; Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services; Energy and Power Development; Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

The Minister of Industry and Commerce, Honourable S.G.G. Nyoni reported on progress recorded for projects under her purview as follows:

1. Pertaining to the resuscitation of David Whitehead Textiles Plant, Mashonaland West Province, the installation of spinning equipment at Kadoma plant is at 95% level of completion. The civil works and plant installations are at 85% and 80%, level respectively;
2. The installation of Margarine Plant, at Willowton Zimbabwe in Mutare is at 95% level of completion;

iii. Installation of a Stockfeed plant at Davipel Pvt Ltd, in Harare is 95% complete and the commissioning is scheduled for the first week of April, 2024;

1. Regarding installation of Civil Works for the chilled water plant at Dairiboard in Chipinge, is now 10% level of completion; and
2. Construction of Ferrochrome Production Plant by Zimbabwe Zhongxin Smelting Company, in Masvingo is 100% complete, while construction of the Power Substation is at 90% complete.

The Minister of Energy and Power Development, Hon. E. Moyo reported progress on projects under his Ministry’s purview as follows:

1. That the 82 km Alaska-Karoi (132kV line) Power Transmission Rehabilitation Projects is at 82% completion level;
2. The Hakatwa Community Solar Project is at 70% completion and is set to be commissioned before the end of year;

iii. Construction of 2 000 metric tonnes Ruwa LPG Storage Facility has reached 100% of completion; and

2024. The Great Zimbabwe 5MW Mini Hydro Power plant is at 70% completion level and is on course to be commissioned by the 31st of January, 2024.

The Minister of Information Communication Technology , Postal and Courier Services Honourable T. A Mavetera reported on progress recorded for projects under the Ministry’s purview as follows:

i.Deployment of 10 Community Information Communication Centres in Matabeleland South, Mashonaland West, Manicaland and Harare Provinces is 80% complete;

1. Deployment of 56 base stations in Harare, Masvingo, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Manicaland is 70 complete;

iii. Pertaining the Fibre to The Home project, the feeder network construction and the cable stringing for FDH01 are complete;

1. With regard to the Long-Term Evolution (LTE) Project in Harare, equipment installation, testing and commission is on course; and
2. The installation of 2 Wireless Radio Base stations, in Norton and Chegutu is at 80% complete.

 

9. Memorandum Of Understanding Between The Republic Of Zimbabwe And The People’s Democratic Republic Of Algeria On Cooperation In The Field Of Archives

Cabinet considered and approved Memorandum of Understanding Between the Republic of Zimbabwe and the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria on Cooperation in the field of Archives as presented by the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage.

The nation is informed that the Memorandum of Understanding provides for cooperation in the field of archives preservation, restoration, digitalisation, indexation and publication.  The parties will exchange archives, guidebooks and inventories; exchange information in area of archives’ management; and cooperate in digitizing the database of cultural heritage properties on the digitized format and online.  Cabinet further advises that the parties will exchange experts in the field of archives to share knowledge on modern technologies and restoration activities as well as identify management skills in the two countries. Furthermore, the two countries would organize training courses, workshops, seminars and exhibitions on archives and scientific research and studies.  Regarding intellectual property rights, the parties will jointly own any results from research conducted under the MOU.

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