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Cabinet received an update on the country’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic and a report on the procurement and roll-ut of Vaccines, as presented by the chairman of the National Covid-19 Inter-Ministerial Committee, Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care, Honourable General (Rtd) Dr CGDN Chiwenga.
The nation is being informed that since the outbreak of Covid-19 in 2020, the country’s cumulative Covid-19 cases stood at 256 492 as at August 9, 2022, with 250 616 recoveries and 5 587 deaths. The recovery rate was 98 percent, with 320 active cases.
The overall number of new Covid-19 cases continued to decrease, with 105 cases being recorded, compared to the 112 recorded the previous week, marking a 6 percent decline.
An average of 15 new cases were reported per day, compared to 16 new cases the previous week. A total of 13 new admissions were recorded during the week, compared to 17 the previous week. No patients were admitted into the intensive care.
The nation is being informed that the Covid-19 pandemic remains under control.
Regarding the national vaccination programme, Cabinet wishes to inform the nation that, as at August 9, 2022, a total of 6 383 123 first doses of the Covid-19 vaccine had been administered, while 4 745 625 people had received their second dose, and 952 249 their third dose.
Routine vaccination activities are continuing at all health facilities. The country has enough vaccine doses to cover vaccination activities until the end of the year.
Cabinet notes with concern the resurgence of Covid-19 cases, particularly in Harare Metropolitan and Mashonaland West provinces, and implores the populace to take the vaccination programme more seriously.
Cabinet wishes to inform the public that the provinces will strengthen surveillance and ensure that all Covid-19 prevention measures are being implemented and adhered to.
On another health matter, the nation is being informed that all provinces are continuing with routine immunisation at all health facilities and remain on high alert following the poliomyelitis (polio) outbreak in the neighbouring Tete province of Mozambique.
Regarding the monkeypox global outbreak, Cabinet advises that a total of 25 054 cases have been reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO) from 85 countries since the beginning of May 2022. Countries in Africa that have reported cases are Benin, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the DRC, Congo Brazzaville, Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia and South Africa.
Once again, there are no monkeypox cases reported in Zimbabwe so far. However, surveillance and awareness continues to be heightened in the national interest.
2022 Population and Housing Census
Cabinet considered an update on the 2022 Population and Housing Census: Housing Characteristics and Living Conditions Survey as presented by the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Honourable Prof Mthuli Ncube.
The nation is being informed that a housing module was introduced in the 2022 Population and Housing Census for the first time. The 2022 Population and Housing Census combined both a population and housing census into one statistical operation.
Cabinet advises that the study was undertaken to inform policy interventions by Government. Results of the Housing census reveal that 58.6 percent of the people own the houses they live in; 19.3 percent are lodgers, those with no formal agreements; 3.1 percent are tenants, those with formal contracts; 9.1 percent, stay with a relative; 9.3 percent live in tied accommodation, that is, those staying in institutional accommodation and 0.5 percent constitute other types of ownership.
The type of dwelling units nationally are as follows: modern houses, 83.0 percent; traditional (pole and dagga), 15.5 percent; shack, 1.1 percent; mobile (vans and caravans), 0.1 percent; other 0.3 percent.
Under energy provision, Cabinet reports that 33.7 percent of the households are using grid electricity, while 28.3 percent are using off-grid electricity such as solar, wind and bio-gas.
Ninety-one percent (91 percent) of the households are using clean fuels such as electricity, solar and flash lights for lighting, 8 percent are using polluting fuels, such as fire wood, candles, paraffin and oil lamps.
Government through Rural Electrification Agency (REA) continues to give access to electricity in rural areas as well as renewable energy.
The construction and refurbishment of power stations and many other energy projects in Matabeleland North province and Hydro-power projects on dams across the country also increases accessibility of electricity.
Increasing the use of electricity in rural areas will go a long way in achieving the rural industrialisation thrust. Firewood, at 60.7 percent remains the main source of energy for cooking, with 38.7 percent of households using energy technology for cooking.
On the main source of water for drinking, the study also covered access to piped water, protected wells or springs and public taps.
Households with access to hand washing facilities stand at 68.7 percent.
Government has embarked on various projects, key among which is the drilling and installation of 35 000 boreholes across the country, one in each village.
On ablution facilities, the report revealed that people are using the flushing system and ventilated pit latrines. Going forward, Government through the Ministry of National Housing and Social Amenities will build more modern ablution facilities.
Thirty-three comma five percent (33.5 percent) of households are disposing solid waste through burning, followed by formal waste disposal at 30.2 percent.
With regard to ownership of Information Communication Technology gadgets, the nation is being informed that most households up to 87.4 percent own a cellular phone, followed by computer/laptops at 11.3 percent, with 34.3 percent of the households having access to internet at home. 54.5 percent of the households in Harare Province have access to the internet, followed by Masvingo Province at 43 percent and Mashonaland Central Province at 16.9 percent.
Under access to information, the nation is advised that the licenced community radio stations programme which was started by the Second Republic has visibly increased radio penetration for the benefit of the marginalized areas.
More licenced community radio stations will be launched countrywide in the near future. Government is expediting implementation of the digital programme and resources will be availed so as to finalise the digitilisation programme through-out the country for the benefit of the people.
On a general note, Cabinet directed relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies to use information from the census Report to design appropriate interventions to improve the state of affairs in their respective portfolios by incorporating programmes and projects in the formulation of the 2023 and subsequent National Budgets.
Compendium of projects implemented by the Second Republic in 2021
Cabinet received a report on a compendium of projects implemented by the Second Republic in 2021, which was presented by the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs and Monitoring Implementation of Government Programmes, Honourable Dr J Gumbo.
The nation is being informed that 1 688 projects were implemented during the period January to December 2021. Out of the 1 688 projects, 657 projects are fully completed, while implementation of 1 031 is ongoing.
The projects include infrastructure and utilities (roads, airports, dams, irrigation, housing, energy); human capital development (construction of schools, provision of ICT equipment); social protection (support for the elderly, BEAM); health and well-being (provision of an enabling environment for health service delivery.
A summary of the distribution of the projects according to provinces is as follows:
Distribution of completed and ongoing projects by Province
Province Completed Ongoing Total Projects
Bulawayo Metropolitan 30 39 69
Harare Metropolitan 79 1 03 182
Manicaland 84 1 90 274
Mashonaland Central 45 74 119
Mashonaland East 119 146 265
Mashonaland West 51 61 112
Masvingo 72 95 167
Midlands 56 100 156
Matabeleland North 68 142 2 10
Matabeleland South 51 83 134
TOTAL 655 1 033 1 688
The robust implementation of the projects bears testimony to the Second Republic’s commitment towards accelerating the betterment of livelihoods of the people of Zimbabwe in tandem with the National Vision of attaining an Upper Middle-Income Society by 2030.
Report on the official visit to Zimbabwe by the Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation
Cabinet received a Report on the Official Visit to Zimbabwe by the Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, as presented by the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development as Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Hon A Murwira.
Cabinet wishes to inform the nation that the official visit to Zimbabwe by the Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Honourable Dr Birutu, from July 29 to 31 2022, was aimed at exchanging notes with his counterpart on bilateral, continental and international issues of mutual interest and concern.
His programme included a courtesy call on His Excellency the President, a tour of the National Heroes Acre, a visit to the Victoria Falls, and the inauguration of the Rwandan Chancery.
The nation is further being informed that Rwanda hosted the inaugural session of the Joint Permanent Commission in March 2022, and Zimbabwe will host the second session in 2023.
Rwanda has committed to assisting Zimbabwe in its bid to be readmitted to the Commonwealth, taking advantage of Rwanda’s chairpersonship of the organisation in the next two years.
Honourable Dr Birutu concluded his visit with the signing of three instruments of bilateral cooperation, namely;
MoU on Immigration;
MoU on Civil Aircraft Accident and Special Incident Investigations; and
The Treaty on Extradition.
To date, Zimbabwe and Rwanda have concluded and signed a total of 22 agreements and/or memoranda of understanding.
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Online Reporter