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Cabinet considered and approved the national policy for the care and protection of children without parental care, which was presented by Honourable Vice President, KCD Mohadi as the chairman of the Committee on Social Services and Poverty Eradication.
The overall goal of the National Policy for the Care and Protection of Children without Parental Care is to facilitate the comprehensive development of all children by ensuring that their needs and rights are adequately met.
The policy seeks among other things to promote and enhance safe, protective and stable environments for children without parental care.
It caters for the rehabilitation of children in specialised alternative care facilities, including those with disabilities, children in conflict with the law, children removed from the streets, child survivors of drug and substance abuse, and children in formal and informal alternative care.
The policy aims at ensuring that all children in alternative care placements in Zimbabwe, regardless of the place, context and duration, enjoy their rights as enshrined in Section 81 (d) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
It will ensure that children in alternative care receive basic services in the form of education, health, justice, food, clothes, shelter, life skills and sustainable livelihoods.
The National Policy for the Care and Protection of Children without Parental Care outlines minimum standards for alternative care including the following: that children should have their needs assessed comprehensively, with written placement care plans, which outline how the needs will be met; that there be regular reviews of children’s needs and development placements in order to meet the child’s identified needs; that children should maintain constructive and safe contact with their families, friends and other people who play a significant role in their lives; and that children should be able to move in and out of care in an appropriate manner.
Children should also get the necessary support to enable them to prepare to leave care and transition into adulthood, while being encouraged to express their views, wishes and opinions on matters that affect them.
A Whole-of Government-Approach will be adopted in the implementation of the policy in order to ensure that the rights of the children are adequately protected. Non-State actors will complement Government efforts in the provision of specialised services in line with their registered mandates.
The Zimbabwe Inter-Governmental Fiscal Transfer Administrative Manual
Cabinet considered and approved the draft Zimbabwe Inter-Governmental Fiscal Transfers Administrative Manual as presented by the Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, Honourable Professor Mthuli Ncube.
The nation is informed that Inter-Governmental Fiscal Transfers from central to lower tiers of Government are provided for under Section 301 of the Constitution. These transfers are meant to support the devolution of powers and responsibilities, with not less than 5 percent of national revenues raised in any financial year being allocated to provinces and local authorities.
The manual provides the necessary regulatory framework in order to ensure equitable fiscal transfers to local tiers of Government, and the seamless implementation of the devolution agenda.
Cabinet notes that the manual will ensure proper administration of the financial resources allocated to lower tiers of Government, by providing clarity on Revenue Sharing and Allocation; Financial Management; Institutional Framework for Managing Inter-Governmental Fiscal Transfers; Other Matters Related to Fiscal Transfers; and Monitoring and Evaluation.
The manual offers a practical and operational guide to the use of inter-governmental fiscal transfers and the roles played by the various parties involved in the administration of the funds.
Domestic and international appeal for assistance under His Excellency the President Mnangagwa’s declaration of a state of disaster due to the 2024 El Niño -induced drought
The Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Honourable Daniel Garwe, presented the 2024 El Niño-Induced Drought: Domestic and International Appeal for Assistance by President Mnangagwa, which was adopted by Cabinet.
The public is informed that President Mnangagwa declared a State of Disaster on April 3, 2024. The declaration was made in terms of section 27(1) of the Civil Protection Act as a result of the prevalent drought brought about by the El Niño weather phenomenon.
The state of disaster exists in all rural and urban areas in Zimbabwe.
The appeal is premised on three areas, namely: search and rescue; mitigation; and resilience building.
Search and rescue involves the identification and provision of assistance to beneficiaries, while mitigation relates to the measures put in place to avert the impact of the El Niño-induced drought.
Resilience pertains to initiatives aimed at strengthening community capacities for sustainable livelihoods in order to cope with the disaster.
A full appeal statement will be issued in due course.
Progress reports on the First 100-Day Cycle of 2024
Cabinet received reports on progress made in the implementation of priority projects for the First 100-Day Cycle of 2024, as presented by the Ministers of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services; and Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion.
The Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, Honourable Tatenda Mavetera reported progress on projects under her purview as follows:
1 000 people were equipped with digital skills, and the remaining 200 will be equipped by May 15, 2024;
2 500 records have been digitised;
Development of the Government Applications Procurement Framework is on course for completion by May 15, 2024;
Deployment of ICT equipment to 100 marginalised schools is on course, with 40 schools having received the equipment, and the remaining 60 will receive the equipment by May 15, 2024;
14 ICT-enabled disaster management centres were established;
52 base stations were deployed across the provinces as follows: Mashonaland East, 12; Mashonaland West, 12; Midlands, 4; Manicaland, 4; Matabeleland South, 7; Masvingo, 13; and Matabeleland North, 3;
Installation of a wireless radio base station in Masvingo was completed;
Installation of internet at Esigodini Agricultural College was completed;
Establishment of an ICT and Vocational Training Centre was completed and handed over to Marondera Female Open Prison;
Refurbishment of post offices at Tsanzaguru and Torwood in Manicaland and Midlands provinces, respectively, was completed;
Site surveys for the Long-Term Evolution (LTE) project in Chitungwiza were completed, and equipment was delivered; and
The Bulawayo-Victoria Falls-Kazungula Fibre Optic Backbone project is on course for completion by May 15.
The Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, Honourable Professor Mthuli Ncube reported progress on projects under his purview as follows:
Timely and adequate disbursements for employment costs and social benefits were done;
Domestic and external resource mobilisation is ongoing;
Policy reform matrices for debt arrears clearance were finalised and implementation has commenced;
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Conference (UNECA) was successfully hosted;
Implementation of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) is on-going; and
The introduction of the new currency was accomplished.
Progress report on preparations for hosting the 44th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government
Cabinet was apprised on progress made in the country’s preparations to host the 44th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government in August 2024 as presented by Honourable Vice President, Dr CGDN Chiwenga.
Considerable progress has been achieved in the rehabilitation of roads to the New Parliament. The bulk of the preparatory works are underway and the project will be completed within the scheduled timeframe.
Plans are afoot to beautify the City of Harare from the Robert Mugabe Airport to the New City. The private sector, including small and medium enterprises, is encouraged to participate in the various committees involved in preparations for the successful hosting of the summit.
Online Reporter