dyton mupawaenda
Political Editor
THE Government is putting in place necessary measures to mitigate the adverse effects of the El-Nino induced droughts, President Mnangagwa has said.
This comes as the country has been experiencing unusual weather spells that have cast a dark cloud on the prospects of this year’s agriculture season.
Despite the late rains that have been caused by El-Nino, a climate phenomenon responsible for raising global temperatures and aggravating extreme weather patterns, the President yesterday assured the nation that his administration will mitigate the adverse effects of the event.
“I want to assure the nation that the Government is closely monitoring the weather, with signs increasingly confirming the El-Nino prediction of a normal to below-normal rainfall season. Government is putting in place the necessary measures to mitigate the adverse effects of the undesirable weather phenomenon,” he said.
This year, most parts of the country have been experiencing acute dry spells that have been threatening planting prospects for those who heavily rely on rain-fed agriculture but to mitigate that impact 70 000 hectares will be planted under irrigation, while the country has within its reserves enough to feed those who may fall through the cracks during the peak lean period.
In his address to Cabinet yesterday, the last of this calendar year, President Mnangagwa, whose administration has ensured food security, said through the Whole-of-Government philosophy his administration will continue with development that leaves no one and no place behind.
“I, also wish to point out that the overriding principle of the Cabinet system is collective responsibility, which ties in well with the Whole-of-Government, Whole-of-Society Approach and our endeavour to leave no one and no place behind.
“To this end, we convened the Government High-Level Retreat on September 14, 2023, and thereafter, induction sessions for ministers and permanent secretaries, were done,” he said.
These platforms, the President added, adequately unpacked the key tenets of collective responsibility, mandates and roles of various Government departments as well as his expectations towards ensuring that Government work is properly coordinated.
“Recently, you also shared experiences with colleagues from the United Arab Emirates, as part of strengthening our administrative apparatus. Bench-marking against best practices, we should therefore strive to be robust, agile, responsive and anticipatory in meeting the needs of the people as well as in responding to attendant challenges.”
Online Reporter