dyton mupawaenda
The Minister of Health and Child Care, Honourable Douglas Mombeshora updated Cabinet on the national cholera outbreak response.
Cabinet informs the nation that incidences of new suspected cholera cases continue on a downward trend, with ten (10) districts having been declared cholera-free. The cholera-free districts are Nyanga, Chimanimani, Makoni, Mwenezi, Kwekwe, Gokwe North, Chirumanzu, Matobo, Umzingwane and Binga.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care continues to monitor all gatherings in order to avert the spread of cholera and other diseases. Government wishes to express gratitude to church leaders and communities for their cooperation during the Easter holidays.
As we gravitate towards a cholera-free situation, Government is urging all communities and religious leaders to uphold and observe good health and hygiene practices.
UPDATE ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MINES TO ENERGY PARK IN MAPINGA, MASHONALAND WEST PROVINCE
Cabinet was briefed by Vice President Honourable C.G.D.N. Chiwenga, as the Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on the Establishment of the Mines to Energy Industrial Park in Mapinga.
Government wishes to inform the nation that the Mines to Energy Industrial Park is a lithium value addition and beneficiation project that will have the following facilities activities:
• the construction of a coking plant with a capacity of 1,2 million and 130 000 tonnes of coke and lithium salt per annum, respectively;
• the construction of two, 300 megawatt power stations;
• a graphite processing plant;
• a nickle chromium alloy smelter; and
• a nickle sulphate plant, together with supportive power supply and logistics.
The industrial park will span over an area of 500 hectares and will be implemented on phased basis, with Phase 1 set to begin in June 2024. Government will have a shareholding in the project.
PROGRESS REPORTS ON THE 1ST 100-DAY CYCLE OF 2024
Cabinet received reports on progress made in the implementation of priority projects for the 1st 100-Day Cycle of 2024, as presented by the Ministers of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development; Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare; and Tourism and Hospitality Industry.
1. The Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Enterprises Development, Honourable Monica Mutsvangwa, reported that the following progress has been recorded on projects under her purview:
(i) the construction of the Hauna Fruit and Vegetable Processing Plant Phase 1 in Honde Valley, Manicaland Province is underway. The project will benefit 600 farmers directly and sustain more 2 000 others from Mutasa and Nyanga districts. The project is funded to the tune of US$450 000;
(ii) 250 small-scale traders are set to benefit from Phase 2 of the construction of the Chirundu Workspace. The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises will be provided with affordable and appropriate workspace. The construction of the main market, administration block and ablution facilities is on course;
(iii) A makerspace for women in the clothing and textile industry is being established at the Bulawayo SMEs Centre. Through the makerspace, women in the textile industry in Bulawayo will access and use specialised equipment in the production of high-quality products. A total of 1 000 women will benefit from the project annually;
(iv) having realised the need to formalise of the some of the 3,4 million Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises operating in the country, the Ministry will facilitate the business registration of 100 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and 10 Community Groups. A total of 25 such enterprise have been successfully registered and registration certificates issued: The businesses are being drawn from Masvingo, Matabeleland North, Harare and Bulawayo Metropolitan provinces; and
(v) the establishment of Savings and Credit District and Provincial Union Phase for Matabeleland North Province is underway. Savings and Credit Cooperatives enhance access to credit as well as promote financial inclusivity.
2. The Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Honourable July Moyo, reported on progress of some projects being implemented by his Ministry as follows:
(i) as part of the Second Republic’s thrust of easing the national housing backlog and contributing towards revenue growth for the benefit of pensioners were disposed at Glaudina and Borrowdale, respectively, while over 200 jobs were created during the on-site and off-site developments;
(ii) in a bid to provide modern and conducive trading environment, the construction of a modern shopping mall, service station and convenience shops at Liberation City in Westlea and Madokero in Harare is underway with 400 permanent jobs having been created;
(iii) to provide a conducive and comfortable accommodation for migrants, returnees, deportees and unaccompanied children, the renovation of the Beitbridge Reception Centre in Matabeleland South Province has reached 80 percent of completion;
(iv) the construction of housing units for the provision of decent student accommodation is underway in Chinhoyi, Mashonaland West; and Zvishavane, Midlands, while the Zim-Campus project in Bulawayo with a capacity of 1 000 units was completed and awaits official opening;
(v) the Lake Mutirikwi mini-hydro electricity generation plant is set for completion this April and has created 400 jobs, with 100 of these being permanent. The project will complement the country’s energy needs through introducing 5 megawatts to the national grid;
(vi) to ensure that drug and substance abuse patients receive counselling and psycho-social support, the identification and establishment of Outpatient Psycho-Social Support Centres is underway in Matabeleland South, Masvingo and Mashonaland Central provinces;
(vii) to avert hunger during the peak hunger period, 6 631,83 tonnes of grain had been distributed to a total of 663 183 beneficiaries across the 8 rural provinces by March 15, 2024; and
(viii) to promote good governance, the Ministry successfully conducted a Citizen Satisfaction Survey, whose results are to measure the citizen’s level of satisfaction with Government service delivery.
3. The Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Honourable Barbra Rwodzi, reported on progress recorded under her review. A total of eight projects were targeted during the current cycle under the thematic area of Environmental Protection, Climate Resilience and Natural Resources Management.
Thatching of the Reception Centre and Gazebo at Diana’s Pools in Umzingwane, in Matabeleland South Province, has been completed, while construction of ablution facilities and kiosk at Mutemwa Religious Site is ongoing. The construction of Tourism Facilities, Tamarind Lodges, Nyanga District, in Manicaland Province is 50 percent complete, with the construction of 16 rooms to lintel level; while the Ministry completed the conversion of additional ninety-nine Tropez Garden Flats into Lux Hotel Flats in Eastlea, in Harare surpassing its target of thirty-three Tropez.
The construction of a Conference Room and Kitchen at the Mountain Lake Resort and Spa, in Nyanga, Manicaland Province had been completed as per the target, while construction of a Beauty Spa to window level is nearing completion. The construction of Waterfront Resort Development Project in Kariba, Mashonaland West Province, has also been completed while Dzimbabwe Lodge, in Kariba, Mashonaland West Province is nearing completion. The refurbishment of nine rooms and construction of seven rooms at the Travellers Rest Lodge, in Beitbridge, Matabeleland South is still ongoing.
Government continues to prioritise tourism infrastructure development as the sector continues to grow.
UPDATE ON THE PREPAREDNESS FOR THE 2024 INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS AND CHILDREN’S PARTY
Cabinet considered and adopted the update report on preparations for the 2024 Independence Anniversary Celebrations and Children’s Party, as presented by Honourable Wiston Chitando, the Vice Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on State Occasions and National Monuments.
Cabinet advises the nation that the preparations for the 2024 Independence Anniversary Celebrations and Children’s Party are at an advanced stage, with projects at various levels of completion. The projects being implemented are at Murambinda A and B Primary Schools, Murambinda B Secondary School, the former Dzapasi Assembly Point, Castle Kopje/Magamba Heroes Acre in Rusape and the rehabilitation and maintenance of the road network in Buhera district.
The grading and gravelling of the Murambinda-Birchenough Bridge Road is nearing completion. Three maintenance teams are working on the Chivhu-Nyazura Road, with gravel patching having been completed. In addition, other small access roads have also been rehabilitated in order to leave no one and no place behind.
Fifty-seven (57) boreholes have been drilled in Buhera District out of the targeted fifty (50) and a total of twenty-four (24) Village Business Units have been established. Meanwhile, 2 hectares earmarked for an orchard has been ploughed, with planting of six hundred (600) fruit trees to commence once the Zimbabwe National Water Authority reticulates water to the site.
The nation is informed that Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services will erect billboards at high traffic points, and has already installed an outdoor screen at Chiurwi Secondary School, which is within the vicinity of the former Dzapasi Assembly Point to enable the community to follow proceedings on Independence Day.
The Ministry will also screen bioscopes from 11 to 17 April, 2024 to remind the communities the importance of independence in the following areas: Mudanda, Mutasa, Gaza and Dorowa. The preparations for the 2024 Independence Gala are on course, with twenty (20) artistes having been shortlisted including some from the Manicaland Province.
Cabinet reports that Manicaland Independence Torch Relay will commence on April 12, 2024 with the lighting of the Flame at the Magamba District Heroes Acre (The Butcher) in Rusape. The Honourable Vice President C.G.D.N. Chiwenga will officiate the lighting of the Flame at the Magamba District Heroes Acre in Rusape. From the Magamba District Heroes Acre, the Independence Flame will be taken to Nyanga, Mutasa (Matumba Six Shrine), Mutare Provincial Heroes Acre, Chimanimani, Chipinge and Buhera.
The Flame is expected at Dzapasi on April 17, 2024 where it will be received by the Honourable Vice President Col. (Rtd.) K.C.D. Mohadi.
Thereafter, the Flame will then be taken by torch-bearers to the main venue on April 18, 2024 where His Excellency the President Cde Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa will address the nation on the 44th Anniversary of Zimbabwe’s Independence in his capacity as the Head of State and Government, and Commander- in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. The nation is informed that preparations for the 2024 Children’s Party are also at an advanced stage, and the event will take place as scheduled on 17th of April, 2024 at Murambinda A Primary School. His Excellency, the President Cde Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa and the First Lady Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa will host the children on the day. Training for mass displays commenced on March 11, 2024, with learners drawn from Murambinda A and B Primary Schools.
A soccer match between Simba Bhora FC and Manica Diamonds FC has been confirmed as part of the afternoon programme after the Children’s Party.
UPDATE ON WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE ACTIVITIES
The Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Honourable A.J. Masuka updated Cabinet on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Activities in his capacity as Chairman of the National Action Committee on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.
Cabinet advises that some rural and urban communities could encounter water shortages due to the depressed 2023/24 rainfall season due to El Nino. However, as at April 4, 2024, the national dams were at 79,9 percent full which is substantially above the 71,7 percent full expected during the month of April.
The nation is informed that there are 12 Dam projects under construction. Lake Gwayi-Shangani in Matabeleland North has reached 70,2 percent of completion; and Kunzvi Dam in Mashonaland East Province has reached 47 percent of completion. Meanwhile priority will be on the completion of Lake Gwayi-Shangani in 2024.
Regarding urban water supply, some 48,9 percent of the forty-seven urban centres monitored have twenty-one months of raw water supply (safe supply), while 38,3 percent of the centres are in the moderate category, with between twelve and 20,9 months of raw water supply, while 12,8 percent have less than twelve months’ raw water supply. The production capacity for Harare currently stands at 301 mega litres per day. Ongoing works at Morton Jaffray will increase production to 520 mega litres per day. To date Government has contributed ZW$8 634 000 000 (US$1 465 017,00) to finance the resuscitation of Harare City water supply. A total of US$4 916 523,49 is required to enable the supply of the targeted 520 mega litres per day. To improve the water supply situation in Harare, Government has drilled a total of three hundred and forty-six boreholes.
Cabinet reports that the combined storage capacity of the dams supplying the City of Bulawayo was 40,09 percent as at April 4, 2024. The average daily water production is 91,4 mega litres per day against a production capacity of 155 mega litres per day. Nyamandlovu Aquifer is contributing 13,85 mega litres per day against the optimal 16,38 mega litres per day. Government has also drilled a total of 79 boreholes. To date Government has contributed ZW$6,9 billion (US$1,2 million) to finance the resuscitation of the Bulawayo water supply, through the oversight of the Bulawayo Technical Committee. A total of US$15 299 751 is required to enable the supply of the required 155 mega litres per day. Cabinet resolved to prioritise water supply across the country.
The nation is informed that Government is targeting to develop 10 000 Village Units by November, 2024. The number of Village Business Units identified for April, 2024 is 1 310, with priority being given to villages in Regions 4 and 5. The twenty-eight Presidential rigs available, twenty-six rigs have been reassigned to the ten provinces, based on the number of villages in each province in Regions 4 and 5.
Cabinet advises that the Zimbabwe National Water Authority has drilled and equipped boreholes under the Presidential Rural Development Programme.
A total of two hundred and two Business Units have been established. Household beneficiaries’ dividends for Village Business Units range between US$50,77 and US$73,33 per household per month from crops and fishery projects, indicating the transformational nature of the Presidential Rural Development Programme.
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE AND THE GOVERNMENT OF INDONESIA ON COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF HEALTH
Cabinet considered and approved the Memorandum of Understanding between the Republic of Zimbabwe and the Government of Indonesia on Cooperation in the Field of Health as presented by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Honourable Ziyambi Ziyambi, the Chairperson of the Cabinet Committee on Legislation.
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The nation is informed that the Memorandum of Understanding between the Republic of Zimbabwe and the Government of Indonesia seeks to promote, develop and increase cooperation in the field of health. The areas of co-operation primarily include reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child and adolescent health and immunisation programme; and forensic pathology and blood services. Furthermore, cooperation is also extended to health system resilience, including public health emergencies preparedness and response and the development of pharmaceutical and medical devices; health financing; human resources for health; health technology, including health information and biotechnology; and other areas mutually agreed by the Parties. Central to the cooperation is the sharing of information, experiences and best practices on health issues, building partnerships and exploring twinning programmes, as well as fighting against pandemics; rational drug use and exchange programmes for health professionals. A Joint Technical Committee will be established to efficiently manage the affairs of the cooperation arrangement.
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE AND THE REPUBLIC OF RWANDA ON HEALTH ISSUES
Cabinet considered and approved the Memorandum of Understanding between the Republics of Zimbabwe and Rwanda on Health Issues as presented by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Hon. Ziyambi Ziyambi, the Chairperson of the Cabinet Committee on Legislation.
Cabinet advises that the Republic of Zimbabwe sought to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Republic of Rwanda for the promotion of cooperation in the field of health. The areas of cooperation include decentralisation of health services to strengthen the district health system towards sustainability and resilience; implementation of public health programmes to combat pandemics and endemics such as Tuberculosis (TB), malaria, maternal and child health, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) as well as other pandemics and endemics; and logistics and supply chain management systems for medicines. The cooperation will be in the form of sharing expertise, open communication, and providing technical assistance as well as training of health specialists.
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