Online Reporter
We publish here the 28th post Cabinet media briefing presented by Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Zhemu Soda, in Harare yesterday.
Under the Agriculture, Food, Climate and Environment Pillar of the National Development Strategy 2, the Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Dr Anxious Jongwe Masuka presented an update on the 2025/2026 summer crops marketing and 2026 winter crops production plan, which was adopted by Cabinet.
Based on the second round of Crops, Livestock and Fisheries Assessment Report, the country is expecting a surplus strategic grain reserve ranging between 550 945 tonnes and 964 945 tonnes, at consumption rates of 10kg per person per month and 7kg per person per month, respectively.
Government stocks held at the Grain Marketing Board as at August 19 stood at 252 177 tonnes, and deliveries for the 2025/2026 season were 126 percent above the 2024/2025 deliveries, with Mashonaland West Province accounting for 50.1 percent of the intake.
Cabinet notes with satisfaction that the increase in national maize output was driven by an increase in both productivity and hectarage, showing that initiatives under the Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy 2 are working as intended and targets are on course to be achieved.
The total maize area planted increased from 1 813 974 hectares in 2025 to 1 963 292 hectares in 2026, representing an 8.2 percent increase, while the average national total production increased from 2 293 556 tonnes to 2 685 021 tonnes, reflecting a growth of 17.1 percent.
The Grain Marketing Board has no outstanding farmer payments for the 2024/2025 marketing season, and modalities have been put in place to ensure timely payments during the current marketing season.
The Government notes that tobacco production has continued to scale new heights, with a total of 358.4 million kg having been sold as at August 18 at an average price of US$2.49 per kg.
This reflects a 1 percent increase in volume from 354 million kg in 2025 which was sold at an average price of US$3.32 per kg. Tobacco exports remain firm, with cumulative tobacco exports as at 19th August, 2026 reaching 138,25 million kg valued at US$791,85 million at an average export price of US$5.73 per kg.
This represents a 39 percent increase in export volume and a 4 percent increase in average price when compared to the corresponding period in 2025.
Pertaining to winter crops production, the wheat area planted reached 106 percent of the target compared to the 101 percent attained at the same time in 2025. In addition, 7 013 hectares has been planted to barley, while a total of 243 850 tonnes is expected from the 9 000 hectares planted to Irish potato.
REQUEST FOR ZIMBABWE TO UNDERTAKE ITS FOURTH VOLUNTARY NATIONAL REVIEW ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2030 AGENDA FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AT THE 2027 UNITED NATIONS HIGH-LEVEL POLITICAL FORUM
In fulfilment of Zimbabwe’s international multi-lateral obligations, Cabinet considered and approved the request for the country to undertake its fourth voluntary national review on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the 2027 United Nations High-Level Political Forum, which was presented by Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Edgar Moyo.
Zimbabwe will undertake its review and present the progress review at the 2027 United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, under the auspices of the United Nations Economic and Social Council.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development comprises 17 Sustainable Development Goals, and is the global blueprint for eradicating poverty, protecting the planet and promoting inclusive and sustainable prosperity.
Regular and inclusive reviews assess progress in implementing the SDGs, identifying challenges and emerging priorities, sharing lessons learnt and strengthening policy implementation. In the spirit of the Whole-of-Society Approach, all citizens are called upon to accord the voluntary national review priority as the country’s principal national reporting mechanism on implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
REPORT ON THE OUTCOME OF THE MINE ENTRA 2026: MINE ENGINEERING AND TRANSPORT EXPO: JULY 29-31
Mines and Mining Development Minister Polite Kambamura presented a report on the outcome of the Mine Entra 2026:Mine Engineering and Transport Expo which was held from July 29 to 31 in Bulawayo, and Cabinet noted the report.
The expo was successfully held under the theme “Unearth, Transform, Prosper: Accelerating Economic Transformation Through Integrated Mining Value Chains”, affirming the imperative for Zimbabwe to move beyond raw mineral extraction towards local beneficiation, value addition and inclusive local participation in line with NDS 2 and Vision 2030.
The exhibition recorded a 20 percent increase in floor occupancy from 7 368 square metres in 2025 to 8 860 square metres in 2026, and attracted delegates from Zimbabwe and across the world, from countries such as South Africa, India, the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Japan.
Some highlights of the expo which was officially opened by President Mnangagwa, included the Supplier, Energy and Infrastructure Symposium; the Exploration Symposium; the Beneficiation Symposium; the Exhibitors Welcome Cocktail; and the Mine Entra Charity Golf Challenge.
Following the success of the Mine Expo 2026, the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development will continue to strengthen post-show and outcomes reporting in order to keep track of the value of business concluded at the 2026 and future editions.
REPORT ON THE BENCHMARKING VISIT TO INDONESIA INDUSTRIAL PARKS
As part of efforts to accelerate attainment of National Development Strategy 2 targets under the Infrastructural Development and Housing Pillar, Cabinet noted the report on the benchmarking visit to Indonesia Weda Bay Industrial Park, from July 28 to August 3, as presented by Energy and Power Development Minister July Moyo.
The objective of the visit was to benchmark the Tsingshan-led Industrial Park model and assess its applicability in Zimbabwe, in terms of leveraging the country’s mineral resources as a catalyst for mineral beneficiation, industrialisation, export growth and economic transformation.
Indonesia Weda Bay Industrial Park has evolved into one of the world’s largest integrated mineral processing and manufacturing hubs, generating approximately US$13 billion in annual industrial output.
This global leadership position was achieved through Government policies promoting domestic beneficiation and large-scale investment into processing, manufacturing, and downstream industries.
Zimbabwe possesses comparable strategic advantages to replicate the Indonesian model, and will therefore draw lessons from the Indonesia Weda Bay Industrial Park which are applicable to Zimbabwe’s industrialisation agenda, under a phased Industrial Park Development Framework.
REPORT ON THE SADC HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT MEETING HELD IN DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA: AUGUST 17
Cabinet received and noted a report on the 46th SADC Heads of State and Government Ordinary Summit which was held in Durban, South Africa on August 17, as presented by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Professor Amon Murwira.
The summit reviewed the political and security situation in the SADC region and provided strategic leadership on the implementation of the pillars of the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP 2020-2030), in order to ensure alignment of programmes and projects to regional priorities as well as to the emerging geopolitical landscape.
Several key regional matters were tabled, including the update on the peace and security situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and Mozambique, and the programme for the refoundation of Madagascar.
The Heads of State and Government also agreed to strengthen manufacturing, intra-regional trade, health financing, regional infrastructure development, regional foot-and-mouth disease control, the regional development fund, regional social cohesion and migration governance.
Other highlights of the summit included the handing over of the SADC chairmanship to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa by President. Mnangagwa, while Zambia was elected the incoming chairperson of SADC, and Eswatini was elected chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.
During the summit, four legal instruments were signed, and Justice Custom Kachambwa was appointed among the six judges to the SADC Administrative Tribunal.
In addition, Thulani Mahambire won the first prize in the SADC Secondary Schools Essay Competition, with Tafadzwa Dongorere and Assession Mahuni coming fourth and 22nd respectively, while Denis Farai Mahuni was ranked fourth in the SADC Tertiary Institutions Essay Competition.
REPORT ON THE ZIMBABWE-SOUTH AFRICA BI-NATIONAL COMMISSION
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe continues to advance its amicable foreign relations doctrine under the National Development Strategy 2’s Image Building, International Relations and Trade Pillar, as presented by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Prof Amon Murwira, in his brief to Cabinet on the working visit by the President Mnangagwa, on the occasion of the fourth session of the Zimbabwe-South Africa Bi-National Commission, held on August 21.
The objectives of the Bi-National Commission were to re-affirm and strengthen the fraternal bonds, shared history, and strategic partnership between Zimbabwe and South Africa; to evaluate the progress on implementation of signed instruments of cooperation and ongoing projects; and to consolidate economic, trade, and political cooperation through the signing of strategic Memoranda of Understanding and Bilateral Agreements that foster regional integration and economic development.
The two Heads of State and Government re-affirmed their commitment to deepening and broadening bilateral relations between the sister republics. To this end, the following instruments of cooperation were signed during the BNC: MoU on collaboration between the Zimbabwe Foreign Service Institute and the Diplomatic Academy of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation; MoU on Correctional Services; Rules of Procedure Governing Meetings of the Zimbabwe-South Africa BNC; MoU on Cooperation in the Field of Agriculture; MoU on Bilateral Cooperation in the Fields of Women Empowerment and Gender Equality; and MoU on Cooperation in the Fields of Arts, Culture and Heritage.
The two nations affirmed that they will continue to jointly work together in ensuring smooth repatriation of affected nationals, following the recent disturbances in South Africa.
The fourth session of the Bi-National Commission demonstrated the enduring strength of Zimbabwe-South Africa relations, moving beyond historic political ties to concrete economic, infrastructure and industrial development outcomes for both nations.
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