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Cabinet considered the status of the vocational training system as presented by the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development as chairperson of the Cabinet Committee on Human Capital Development, Skills Audit and Employment Creation.
The nation is advised that Government is committed to strengthening promoting in inclusive implementation of vocational skills to benefit the young population in Zimbabwe.
This deliberate drive is intended at ensuring that an adequate labour force with appropriate skills is produced to support national economic development. The main objective of the framework is to stimulate and intensify the drive at national level, to support the development, modernisation and expansion of the Vocational Training System.
The recently enacted Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) policy sets the platform for the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation to play its part in enhancing the youth demographic dividend.
The approved programme is expected to revamp the 45 fully-fledged Vocational Training Centres, 25 satellite centres and establish one centre in each district. The Vocational Training Centres have a mandate to develop an entrepreneurial and self-reliant culture among the Zimbabwean youths through vocational skills and business management training, targeting out of school youths, school leavers and aspiring entrepreneurs.
The target youth niche for vocational training centres constitutes a population currently grappling with rampant drug and substance abuse. This will make vocational training and skills development a major tool to effectively fight the scourge. The skills development will enhance self-empowerment, community development and foster employment creation. The sub-sector is important in the development of the economy by providing an alternative pathway for non-academic, skilled citizens.
The nation is advised that the Government will continue to promote the improvement and expansion of infrastructure, to match modern industrial trends and enrolment demands. The transformation process includes the development and implementation of training packages based on the concepts and principles of the competence-based Zimbabwe National Qualification Framework (ZNQF), greening of Vocational Training Centres and training programmes, and the mainstreaming of entrepreneurship as well as gender and inclusivity in all training programmes.
ENGAGEMENT OF A DIGITAL PLATFORM PROVIDER FOR THE PROCESSING, PRODUCTION AND DIGITALISATION OF SECURITISED TITLE DEEDS
Cabinet received and considered the memorandum on the proposed engagement of Dokuma (Pvt) Ltd to provide a digital platform for the processing, production and digitalisation of securitised title deeds as presented by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.
The nation will recall that on 22December, 2021, His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe Dr ED. Mnangagwa announced his intention to issue title deeds to urban settlement dwellers through the Presidential title deeds and settlement regularization programme.
In that regard, a Cabinet committee was put in place to oversee the implementation of the Programme, and a Taskforce chaired by the Secretary for Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs was set up to receive, process and register title deeds.
The task force made a recommendation to the Cabinet committee to put in place a digital registration system because the current manual title deeds registration system was tedious and ineffective, resulting in lengthy waiting periods and duplication of the important documents. The Cabinet committee resolved to work with Dokuma (Pvt) Ltd during the pilot phase of the programme to provide the digital platform for production of securitised title deeds that were issued to beneficiaries, beginning with Epworth.
Dokuma (Pvt) Ltd is a Zimbabwean registered company which specialises in developing digital platforms and processes for receiving registration and archiving of title deeds. The system developed by Dokuma Pvt (Ltd), allows for secure managed and safe storage of documents through block chain technology. This digital platform will facilitate ease of doing business and afford citizens access to services anywhere and at any time, thereby eliminating the land and space barons menace.
43RD ORDINARY SADC SUMMIT OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT REPORT
Cabinet considered the 43rd Ordinary SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government Report as presented by the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Prof A Murwira, as the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
His Excellency, the President, Dr ED Mnangagwa attended the 43rd Ordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government in Luanda, Republic of Angola on 17 August, 2023.
The summit was preceded by the meetings of the standing committee of senior officials, Council of Ministers and organ summit meetings. The summit witnessed the handover of the chair of SADC from His Excellency, Felix Antoine Tsisekedi Tshilomo, the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, to His Excellency Joao Manuel Gonclaves Lourenco, the President of the Republic of Angola.
President Mnangagwa was elected as the incoming vice chairperson of SADC. In this regard, the 44th Ordinary SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government will be held in Zimbabwe in 2024.
The summit also elected His Excellency Hakainde Hichilema, the President of the Republic of Zambia, as Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation, and Her Excellency Dr Isamia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania as incoming chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation.
Zimbabwe has paid all its assessed member states contributions towards SADC. Member states are expected to remit contributions towards peace operations in the Republic of Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The summit received a report on the elections which took place in 2022 in the Republic of Angola and Kingdom of Lesotho. The summit also noted the elections which will be held in the following Member States between August 2023 and May 2024:-
- The Republic of Zimbabwe – general elections – 23 August, 2023.
- The Kingdom of Eswatini – general elections – 29 September, 2023.
- Madagascar – Presidential Elections first round 9 November 2023 and second round 20 December, 2023.
- The Democratic Republic of Congo – Presidential Election – 20 December, 2023.
- The Republic of South Africa – national and provincial elections – 2024.
- The Union of Comoros – Presidential Election – February, 2024.
The summit endorsed Zimbabwe candidature for a seat as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the period 2027 -2028. The summit also approved the appointment of Dr Judith Kateera, a Zimbabwean as the new deputy executive secretary for corporate affairs for SADC.
STATE PARTY REPORT TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL ON THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS
Cabinet considered and adopted the State Party Report to the Human Rights Council on the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, which was presented by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Honourable Ziyambi Ziyambi as the Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law.
The nation is informed that the submission of the Report is in fulfilment of the obligation for the country to submit periodic reports to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which Zimbabwe ratified in May 1991.
The report covers key issues on the Zimbabwean civil and political rights situation, including Non-discrimination and Gender Equality; Right to Freedom of Expression; Right to Privacy; Right to Freedom of Religion; Right to Peaceful Assembly; and Participation in Public Affairs. Specifically, the Report addresses concerns raised by the United Nations Treaty Body, showing that the country’s political and civil rights under the Second Republic continue to be excellent.
Cabinet notes that the prevailing peaceful environment, even in the current election period, is testimony that the civil and political rights of Zimbabweans as enshrined in the Constitution and Convention, are guaranteed under the Second Republic.
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN TANZANIA AND ZIMBABWE IN THE FIELDS OF ARTS, CULTURE AND HERITAGE
Cabinet considered and approved the Memorandum of Understanding between the Republic of Zimbabwe and the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania concerning cooperation in the field of arts, culture and heritage, which was presented by the Attorney General, Honourable Prince Machaya.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) promotes and further strengthens the solid relations between Zimbabwe and Tanzania dating back to the days of the liberation struggle. The areas of cooperation under the MoU include the following:
- The learning of each Party’s respective culture through the exchange of artists, artistic groups and experts in different manifestations of arts and culture by organizing concerts, fashion shows, arts exhibitions, festivals and lectures in either country;
- Showcasing the different aspects of each Party’s cultural life through dance, cinema, exhibitions, research and conferences; and
- Exchange of appropriate materials and programmes at the request of the either Party.
The MoU is envisaged to further cement the sister countries’ excellent relations, thereby consolidating economic, social and political cohesion through better understanding of the respective countries’ cultures.
UPDATE ON TOBACCO AND WINTER WHEAT PRODUCTION
Cabinet is pleased to advise that the total tobacco production now stands at a phenomenal 295 499 782 kilogrammes, valued at US$895 114 791, as reported by the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Honourable Dr Anxious Jongwe Masuka. Of special note is the fact that 52 percent of the total production came from A1 and A2 farmers, confirming that the Land Reform Programme has been a success.
Government is again gratified that the cumulative area planted under wheat this winter season stands at 90 192 hectares, which is above the targeted 90 000 hectares.
Most (57 percent) of the crop was planted by A2 farmers, 13 percent by A1 farmers and 11 percent by large-scale commercial farmers, presenting another confirmatory indicator of the success of the land reform programme. The bulk of the crop is at the booting stage and is in good condition. In order to ensure good harvests, pest control activities are ongoing, with successful quelea bird control programmes having been undertaken in Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East and Mashonaland West provinces.
DECLINING PRICES OF BASIC COMMODITIES
The corrective measures implemented by Government following a spike in the prices of basic goods and services around June 2023 have seen the prices continue to go down, as reported by the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Honourable Dr Sekai Nzenza. The prices of bread, cooking oil, sugar and mealie-meal, among other basic commodities, have tumbled, with the price of mealie-meal declining by 27 percent.
Cabinet is pleased that the measures have been effective in curbing the price increases, and that the foreign currency exchange rate remains stable. This is testimony of the Second Republic’s sound management of the economy.
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN HARARE
As advised at the 22nd Post-Cabinet Media Briefing, Government has, in terms of the Constitution, taken over the clearance of solid waste in Harare, following years of neglect and ineptitude by the Harare City Council. Garbage had accumulated into huge heaps in and around the City, causing a health concern and His Excellency the President declared the situation a state of disaster in July 2023.
The clearing of waste dumps in the Central Business District and other locations in Harare is progressing well and expected to be completed in two weeks’ time. The Office of the Minister of State for Harare Metropolitan Provincial Affairs and Devolution and the Central Mechanical Equipment Department (CMED) have been incorporated to beef up the programme since the Harare City Council has no capacity to undertake the task. The Council has less than 10 operational refuse trucks following long years of neglect and poor fleet maintenance and management.
The nation is assured that the Second Republic will not stand by and watch when such adverse situations occur due to Local Authorities’ ineptitude, but will legally intervene in the national interest.
CONFERMENT OF THE ORDER OF THE STAR OF ZIMBABWE, SILVER AWARD ON DOCTOR REBECCA CHISAMBA
The nation is informed that His Excellency the President conferred the Order of the Star of Zimbabwe award in silver on Dr Rebecca Chisamba for sterling work as the iconic host of the Amai Chisamba talk show. Dr Chisamba has been at the forefront of informing, educating and advising the nation for over two decades. Her shows have broached numerous subjects that the Zimbabwean society at large grapples with including moral decadence and evolving gender roles. The shows continue to provide space for people to air their views on societal issues. Dr Chisamba also embodies an entrepreneurial spirit worthy of emulation.
Online Reporter