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Cabinet received an update on Zimbabwe’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and a report on the rollout of vaccines, which was presented by the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs and Monitoring Implementation of Government Programmes as the Acting Minister of Health and Child Care, Honourable JM Gumbo.
Cabinet is informing the nation that as of 3rd June 2023, Zimbabwe’s cumulative Covid-19 cases had reached 265 152, with 259 195 recoveries and 5 695 deaths. The recovery rate was 98 percent, with 262 active cases recorded. Two deaths were recorded during the week, as in the previous week.
As of 3 June 2023, the cumulative number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered had reached 7 331 697 for the first dose, 5 493 480 for the second dose, and 2 130 998 for the third dose. The national vaccination coverage for dose one increased to 65,2 percent from 65,1 percent the previous week.
The nation is being informed that the pandemic remains under control. The nation is however encouraged to continue prioritising vaccination activities. Cabinet has directed as follows:
a) That Provincial health teams should integrate Covid-19 surveillance with that for other respiratory diseases and intensify Covid-19 testing in light of increased respiratory infections during the winter period;
b) That vaccination activities in all provinces be intensified, supported by the Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution; and
c) That communities prioritise getting vaccinated, while protecting themselves by adhering to all recommended Covid-19 Public Health and Social Measures.
UPDATE ON THE CHOLERA OUTBREAK RESPONSE
Cabinet received an update on the cholera outbreak response, which was presented by the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs and Monitoring Implementation of Government Programmes as acting Minister of Health and Child Care, Honourable J.M. Gumbo.
Cabinet is informing the nation that a cumulative 154 317 suspected cholera cases have been reported on the African continent, with 2 747 deaths, reflecting a Case Fatality Rate of 1,78 percent. Zimbabwe has so far recorded 2 076 cases, with 1 942 recoveries and 15 deaths, reflecting a case fatality rate of 2,3 percent.
All ten provinces have reported cholera suspected cases. Manicaland, Harare and Matabeleland South Provinces contribute 83 percent of the country’s cases to date. Cholera confirmed deaths have been recorded in Harare (3), Manicaland (8), Mashonaland Central (2), Mashonaland West (1) and Masvingo (1).
In light of the continued increase in cholera cases, Cabinet has resolved as follows:
a) That the multi-sectoral approach to responding to the cholera outbreak be continued with a focus to address water and sanitation; and
b) That the Ministry of Health and Child Care, working closely with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, intensify timely releases of funds to facilitate the cholera comprehensive response.
UPDATE ON THE WATER AND SANITATION SITUATION IN THE NEW LINES AREA, MBARE, HARARE
Cabinet received an update on the water and sanitation situation in the New Lines Area, Mbare, Harare, which was presented by the Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry as Acting Minister of National Housing and Social Amenities, Honourable NM Ndlovu.
Cabinet wishes to inform the nation that a fact finding visit to the New Lines Area in Mbare, Harare by the Ministers of National Housing and Social Amenities; and Industry and Commerce, as well as officials from the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, and City of Harare revealed that the situation is dire and requires immediate intervention. Some of the problems are that the Harare City Council, which charges monthly rentals of US$100 per room, is not carrying out any repairs and maintenance and blockages are attended to by volunteers.
Cabinet noted the report:
a) Declared the situation a state of emergency and directed that Devolution Funds be used for refurbishing the sewer system and garbage clearance;
b) Directed that the Ministry of Health and Child Care provides solution related to health and safety.
c) Directed that families in poor habitation be profiled and provided with temporary shelter in the vicinity, while their houses are demolished and replaced with blocks of flats.
ADDENDUM TO THE PRINCIPLES OF THE COMPANIES AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE BILL
Cabinet considered and approved the variation to the Principles on the establishment of the Deeds, Companies and Intellectual Property Authority as a semi-autonomous entity, which were presented by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Honourable Z. Ziyambi.
The nation is being informed that in October 2022 Cabinet approved Principles that sought to separate the Companies and Intellectual Property sections from the Department of Deeds, Companies and Intellectual Property by creating a body corporate termed the Companies and Intellectual Property Office headed by a Chief Registrar.
The variation seeks to merge the three sections and have one Chief Registrar in charge of the Deeds, Companies and Intellectual Property sections, respectively. This will be cost effective to the Treasury and strategically efficient to keep the offices together and restructure the whole Department into a single Authority.
PROVINCIAL EDITIONS OF COMPENDIA OF PROJECTS IMPLEMENTED BY THE SECOND REPUBLIC DURING THE PERIOD 2018-2022
Cabinet considered the Provincial Editions of Compendia of Projects implemented by the Second Republic during the period 2018-2022 as presented by the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs and Monitoring Implementation of Government Programmes Hon Dr JM Gumbo.
The projects implemented in the provinces reflect Government’s commitment to deliver on its promises of improving the livelihoods of the populace in line with the developmental trajectory of leaving no one and no place behind. The Summary of the distribution and status of projects according to provinces is as follows:
Cabinet also approved the translation of the provincial editions into the Constitutionally recognised languages of Zimbabwe.
RATIFICATION OF THE PROTOCOL RELATING TO AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE 50 (a) OF THE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION.
Cabinet approved the Ratification of the Protocol Relating to Amendment to Article 50(a) of the Convention on International Civil Aviation as presented by the Attorney-General on behalf of the chairman of Cabinet Committee on Legislation.
The nation is informed that the Republic of Zimbabwe is a contracting state of Convention on International Civil Aviation which was signed in Chicago, USA in 1944, and is thus popularly known as (the Chicago Convention). The protocol amends the Chicago Convention to increase the size of the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO Council) from thirty-six members to forty.
An increase in the number of Council members will improve the representation and participation of ICAO members in guiding the work of ICAO, and reduce concerns that Council does not represent the wide spectrum of ICAO members.
ACCESSION TO THE CONVENTION ON THE UNIFICATION OF CERTAIN RULES FOR INTERNATIONAL CARRIAGE BY AIR
Cabinet also approved the Accession to the Convention on the Unification of Certain Rules for International Carriage by Air as presented by the Honourable Attorney-General as acting Chair of the Cabinet Committee on Legislation.
The Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules for International Carriage by Air was concluded at Montreal on 28 May 1999 during the International Conference on Air Law and came to force on o4 November 2003.
The Convention modernises and consolidates the international legal regime which has been established pursuant to the Warsaw Convention of 1929 and its various amending instruments and provides, within a consolidated and uniform framework, the rules relating to the international carriage of passengers, baggage and cargo performed by aircraft for reward.
The Convention also protects the interests of the passenger by introducing a modern two-tier liability system and by facilitating the swift recovery of proven damages without the need for lengthy litigation. Air carriers, on the other hand achieve substantial operational savings through the use of electronically produced and simplified documents of carriage especially in the cargo field and the ability to manage risks more efficiently.
ACCESSION TO THE CONVENTION ON THE SUPPRESSION OF UNLAWFUL ACTS RELATING TO CIVIL AVIATION
Cabinet considered and approved Accession to the Convention on the Suppression of Unlawful Acts relating to Civil Aviation as presented by the Attorney-General on behalf of the Chairperson Cabinet Committee on Legislation.
The Convention on the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Relating to International Civil Aviation (Beijing Convention) was signed at Beijing on 10 September 2010 and came into force on 1 July 2018.
The Beijing Convention is an important component of international efforts to prevent and punish both terrorism targeting civil aviation and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The Convention is the result of collective efforts by the international community to modernize the legal framework for aviation security.
The Convention further requires State Parties to criminalize specified acts under their domestic laws and to co-operate, prevent and investigate suspected crimes including an “extradite or prosecute” obligation with respect to persons accused of committing, attempting to commit, conspiring to commit, or aiding in the commission of such offences.
THE PARKS AND WILDLIFE AMENDMENT BILL 2023
Cabinet received and approved the Parks and Wildlife Amendment Bill, 2023 as presented by the Attorney-General Honourable P. Machaya on behalf of the Chairperson of the Cabinet Committee on Legislation.
The nation is informed that amendment of the Bill has been necessitated by the need to broaden the scope of the Parks Act through harmonizing the Act with all other wildlife legislation and including other properties that were acquired by Government on behalf of the Parks and Wildlife Authority. The Bill will also provide for the sustainable utilisation, sustainable development, the precautionary principle, community participation, access and benefit-sharing and to take into cognisance regional and international instruments on wildlife.
The Amendment Bill will repeal the Quelea (Control) Act (Chapter 19:10), and the Trapping of Animals Act (Control) (Chapter20:21) and to align the Act to the Constitution.
The Bill will provide for the creation of a Human-Wildlife Conflict Relief Fund which will offer some monetary relief to victims of human-wildlife conflict.
REPORT ON HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT’S VISIT TO MALAWI
The nation is informed that His Excellency President Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa undertook a State Visit to Malawi from 31 May to 2 June 2023, at the invitation of his counterpart Dr. Lazarus. M. Chakwera, President of the Republic of Malawi. The Minister of State for Presidential Affairs and Monitoring of Government Programmes presented a report on the State Visit.
During the visit, the two leaders held a Bilateral Summit at Kamuzu Palace, in Lilongwe, on 1 June 2023. The two Heads of State and Government discussed political, economic and social developments in both countries, evaluated the two countries’ status of bilateral cooperation, conversed on the predominant historical ties that were of great importance to the ongoing relationship and exchanged views on issues of mutual interest and concern to the two countries.
The State Visit was highly successful as the two Presidents presided over the signing of nine Memoranda of Understanding in various fields.
Regarding the security situation in Africa, the two Presidents underscored the need to maintain peace, security and stability on the continent. They affirmed their commitment to uphold the sovereignty and integrity of States, and to reject unconstitutional changes of Government as well as interference in domestic political processes of African countries by external forces.
His Excellency Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa expressed profound gratitude to His Excellency Dr. Lazarus Chakwera for his continued support in calling for the lifting of the illegal sanctions that were imposed on Zimbabwe by some Western countries. His Excellency Dr Lazarus. M. Chakwera also noted the application by Zimbabwe to re-join the Commonwealth and reiterated Malawi’s firm support for Zimbabwe’s application and wished President Mnangagwa and the people of Zimbabwe, successful and peaceful elections in August 2023.
REPORT ON THE 11TH SESSION OF THE ZIMBABWE- MALAWI JOINT PERMANENT COMMISSION ON COOPERATION (JPCC): 28 TO 30 MAY 2023
The 11th Session of the Zimbabwe-Malawi Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation (JPCC) was held in Lilongwe, Malawi from 28 to 30 May 2023.
The meeting was a forerunner to the signing of the underlisted memoranda during the State Visit:
1) MoU concerning Cooperation in Local Government;
2) Mou on Cooperation in the Field of Promotion of Community Development, Women Empowerment and Gender Affairs;
3) MoU on Cooperation in the Field of Information and Broadcasting;
4) MoU on Immigration Cooperation;
5) MoU on Cooperation in the Field of Forestry Management;
6) MoU on Energy Affairs Cooperation;
7) MoU on Police Cooperation;
8) MoU between the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) and the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC); and
9) MoU between the Zimbabwe Inter-Africa News Agency (NEW ZIANA) and the Malawi News Agency (MANA).
Malawi expressed deep gratitude for the humanitarian support that the Government and people of Zimbabwe continue to give to the victims of Cyclone Freddy through the Zim-Aid Agency. Zimbabwe reaffirmed its deepest sympathies and continued solidarity with the Government of the Republic of Malawi and the bereaved families during this challenging period.
Zimbabwe and Malawi reaffirmed their commitment to support each other’s candidatures and positions at the regional, continental and multilateral fora. In this spirit, Zimbabwe requested the support of Malawi for its bid for a Non-Permanent Seat in the United Nations Security Council for the 2027 to 2028 period.
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