admin
INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME FOR THE VICTORIA FALLS-BINGA SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE
Cabinet considered and approved the Conceptual Development Framework for the Victoria Falls-Binga Special Economic Zone and the related nodes following presentation by the Minister of Local Government and Public Works.
The following 10 nodes, most of them being tourist resorts, were identified within the Special Economic Zone namely:- Victoria Falls Municipality Area; Jafuta (Masuwe) Stateland; Batoka Town; Mlibizi Resort; Binga Centre; Sijarira Resort; Binga hinterland; Gwayi-Shangani Dam Resort; Hwange Town; and the Hwange Aerodrome Centre.
Overall, the agreed approach includes the integration of the natural environment, current ecotourism activities and requirements relating to the World Heritage status while enhancing and diversifying the tourism products on offer and integrating tourism with other hinterland economies like mining and irrigation, for example, Binga and Hwange.
Accordingly, major activities earmarked for the Nodes are as follows: integrated resorts; a research, innovation and educational park; Medical and recreational parks; power generation and aquaculture.
Going forward, Government will proceed in a phased manner and the public will be kept informed of progress made. Suffice to say, ZIDA will spearhead the development as per its mandate.
This project involves the development of at least three beaches in Binga with the longest being seven kilometres. There will be a world class golf course, recreational theme parks, upmarket houses, state-of-the-art civic centres and redevelopment of the residential area in Victoria Falls. A new airport will be built in Binga. Because of big projects being carried out in Hwange such as three power generation plants and five coal mines, four coking mines and one colliery, Hwange Town will be expanded with new settlements built to accommodate the workforce and its families. All these projects are part of Vision 2030.
UPDATE ON THE UTILISATION OF INTER-GOVERNMENTAL FISCAL TRANSFERS (DEVOLUTION FUNDS) BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES
The Minister of Local Government and Public Works briefed Cabinet on how Devolution funds were disbursed and utilised by Local Authorities in 2019. The disbursements were made according to a laid down formula that takes into account the demographic, infrastructure and poverty levels in the different areas.
Cabinet noted that zw$703 million was allocated in 2019 towards devolution. Cabinet highlights that despite the late release of resources several projects were put on stream in the various local authority jurisdictions.
The projects are at various stages of completion in key areas such as education, health, roads rehabilitation, water and sanitation, and electricity. The following are some of the key projects that were completed in the various Provinces using devolution funds:
Mashonaland West
Solar street lights were installed by the Chinhoyi Municipality, and Chirundu Local Board. Norton Town Council refurbished Nharira Secondary School, Chegutu Rural District Council upgraded the ICT infrastructure. Under Hurungwe RDC the Magunje sewer designs were completed.
Manicaland
Refurbishment of Vhiriri Primary School and Mbundire Clinic was completed by the Buhera RDC. Rusape Town Council bought and equipped an ambulance vehicle. It also acquired two chemical dosing pumps for the town’s water works. Chimanimani RDC procured a tipper truck.
Masvingo
In Chiredzi, 11classroom blocks were constructed, including Gwaseche and Gudo Clinics. Under Chivi RDC the Shindi water reticulation was completed, boreholes drilled in nine wards and several storm-damaged infrastructure rehabilitated. Under Chiredzi RDC, seven public toilets were constructed, five bush pump boreholes drilled, desilting of storm water drains and installation of several solar powered street lights. Gutu RDC constructed six clinics, school staff houses, roads, reticulated piped water schemes and procured earth-moving equipment. Mwenezi RDC purchased a tipper truck, completed classroom blocks at several Primary Schools.
Midlands
The City of Kwekwe is constructing a farmers market which is almost complete. Redcliff Municipality installed public lighting at the Old steelworks, Zisco and Rutendo Road. Tongogara RDC drilled and equipped ten boreholes.
Mashonaland East
Twenty-seven lights were installed at Hwedza Growth Point and a tipper truck procured. Under Manyame RDC, 25 boreholes were drilled. A classroom block, staff quarters and a toilet were constructed in Mapukutu Secondary school in Murewa.
Mashonaland Central
Chaminuka RDC drilled a borehole and purchased a refuse compactor. Nyatsao clinic under Rushinga RDC was officially opened.
Harare
City of Harare procured some equipment for the rehabilitation of Harare’s water production equipment. A refuse truck was procured and two boreholes drilled in Wards 2 and 9 of Ruwa.
Matabeleland South
Beitbridge Municipality procured a refuse compactor. Gwanda municipality constructed a classroom block at Phakama Primary School and a water reservoir which is almost complete.
Matabeleland North
Hwange RDC constructed the superstructure for Leona Main Clinic and Victoria Falls Municipality has procured a tipper truck.
ZIMBABWE’S RESPONSE TO THE CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)
Cabinet received an update on the steps that are being taken to contain the Covid-19 pandemic from Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs, Honourable OCZ Muchinguri-Kashiri, chairperson of the Ad Hoc Inter-Ministerial TaskForce on the Covid-19 Outbreak. Cabinet is happy to announce that the number of people who are recovering from Covid-19 continues to increase and implores members of the public to keep adhering to the Covid-19 containment regulations.
As at 19 August 2020 4 442 people had recovered from the pandemic, leaving 1051 active cases. The World Health Organisation’s new guidelines for D-isolation now in use for discharging patients also contributed to the reduction in active cases.
The number of PCR tests has increased significantly, with an average of 1 946 being conducted per day since the beginning of testing. A total of 82 841 PCR and 95 232 RDT tests have been done since testing began six months ago and the decongestion of Plumtree Border Post is now complete.
Cabinet assures the public that the Government is seized with improving working conditions for all its workers and is concerned by the high infection rate amongst frontline workers.
Accordingly, the Ministry of Health and Child Care, with support from developing partners, is working on a combined fact-finding exercise, and continues to train health workers in infection prevention and control.
Following reports of Government institutions paying different prices for similar materials and, in some cases, purchasing sub-standard products, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development has issued a circular centralising the procurement of all Covid-19 materials under NatPharm. Purchases of materials for internal use by Departments are also covered by the directive.
Cabinet is aware that ZUPCO continues to provide services to commuters in urban areas and undertakes to explore measures to facilitate efficient movement of workers to and from work.
Registered bus and kombi operators are encouraged to join the ZUPCO franchise in order to enlarge the ZUPCO fleet. Cabinet has directed that fuel supply to ZUPCO be ring-fenced in order to alleviate the situation with regard to the movement of workers.
Following the relaxation of lockdown measures in South Africa, Cabinet would like to advise members of the public that the Zimbabwean diplomatic mission in that country has introduced a gradual resumption of consular services to facilitate the repatriation of those in need of returning home.
In relation to the re-opening of schools for end-of-year examinations, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has developed a school by school database to track the level of preparedness for each and every primary and secondary school in terms of compliance with Covid-19 standard operating procedures that regulated the successful holding of the June 2020 mid-year examinations.
LIVESTOCK GROWTH PLAN
Cabinet considered and approved the proposed Livestock Growth Plan (2020-2025) which was presented by the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement. The Plan seeks to grow the livestock sector to a US$ 1.9 billion economy by 2025.
The Government of Zimbabwe is cognisant that the livestock sector has to be run as a business to ensure that it makes significant contribution to Zimbabwe’s socio-economic growth. In order to resolve the limiting factors in the livestock sector, collaboration amongst Government, the private sector and development partners will be encouraged.
Key strategies of the Livestock Development Plan entail the following: an animal nutrition programme; a genetics improvement programme; an animal health programme; a climate change adaptation and small stock programme; the development of market and trade infrastructure; and resource mobilisation.
PRINCIPLES OF THE ZIMBABWE SPORT INTEGRITY BILL
Cabinet considered and approved Principles on the Proposed Zimbabwe Sport Integrity Bill from the Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation.
The Bill seeks to provide for the elimination of sport corruption, doping, competition manipulation and illegal betting among other vices. It will also allow Zimbabwe to, inter alia: work with other governments, regionally and internationally to combat doping, competition manipulation and corruption in sport by complying with the Olympic Charter, UNESCO Convention on the Elimination of Doping in Sport, Statute of the African Union Sports Council, among other global integrity guidelines in sport to which Zimbabwe is a signatory; and come up with an institutional framework to assist in the administration and management of athletes and athletes support personnel.
Online Reporter