Online Reporter
We publish here 11th the post Cabinet media briefing presented by Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Zhemu Soda, in Harare yesterday.
Cabinet noted and approved the 2026 second round of the crop, livestock and fisheries assessment and the cotton production remedial measures reports as presented by the Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Minister Anxious Masuku.
The report shows outcomes of estimated crop, livestock and fisheries production for the 2025/2026 summer season as per the following highlights:
The agricultural sector experienced an overall 5 percent growth;
Maize production is expected to increase by 2 percent from 2,29 million tonnes in 2024/2025 to 2,35 million tonnes in 2025/2026;
Traditional grains are estimated at 390 272 tonnes, comprising sorghum, 290 216 tones; pearl millet, 87 677 tonnes; and finger millet, 12 379 tonnes
Total cereal production for the 2025/2026 season is expected to be 2 739 712 tonnes. The total grain inclusive of the Strategic Reserves is expected to reach 2 876 614 tonnes;
Livestock: goat, sheep, pig and poultry production increased by a range of between 0,3 percent to 29 percent, while various horticultural crops grew by between 10 percent to 44 percent;
Soya bean production increased 129 percent from 41 919 tonnes in 2024 to 96 129 tonnes in 2025/2026;
Cotton production is estimated at 77 212 tonnes, reflecting a 26 percent increase compared to the previous season’s 61 289 tonnes;
Tobacco production is estimated at 378 322 tonnes, compared to 353 452 tonnes, reflecting a 7 percent increase from the previous season;
the national cereals balance sheet to March 2027 shows that the nation expects surplus cereals ranging from 550 945 tonnes to 964 945 tonnes, according to various consumption patterns.
Cabinet also adopted the following raft of measures aimed at safeguarding the gains achieved in the agricultural sector:
The enforcement of Statutory Instrument 87 of 2025 to encourage local production and purchase of grain along other financing options;
Acceleration of Climate–proofing agriculture at national and household level through Pfumvudza/Intwasa and irrigation development;
The sustained emphasis on agro-ecological tailoring of crops, and soil health fertility management through enhanced agricultural information management systems;
Adequate resourcing of Rural Development 8.0 schemes together with investments in Village Business Units;
The sustained establishment of Ward Drought Mitigation Centres in order to build the resilience of communities against future shocks; and
The revitalisation of the cotton industry through a tailored corporate rescue initiative for the relevant State-owned enterprise. The other key strategic intervention is the expeditious payment of farmers for cotton deliveries.
PROPOSED PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF BULK INFRASTRUCTURE ON LOT 1 OF JAFUTA ESTATE IN MASUWE SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE, VICTORIA FALLS
Cabinet approved the proposed public private partnership for the development of bulk infrastructure on Lot 1 of Jafuta Estate in Masuwe Special Economic Zone, Victoria Falls, between Mosi Oa Tunya Development Company and JR Goddard Private Limited,which was presented by the Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, Prof Mthuli Ncube.
The Masuwe Special Economic Zone is a flagship National Development Project which the Second Republic established in September 2018 with a strategic intent to transform Victoria Falls into a diversified, high-value hub integrating tourism, financial services and sustainable real estate.
The zone encompasses a total of 1 200 hectares of Jafuta Estate, outside Victoria Falls City, and is strategically located within the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area.
The proposed projects will entail the surfacing of 8km of internal road network; the upgrading of 9km of gravel roads; the construction of a 13km water pipeline covering the entire 1 200 hectares and the neighbouring communities; the construction of a package water treatment plant, a sewerage reticulation system, effluent re-use storage ponds, a power sub-station; and the provision of management services for the Special Economic Zone.
A rigorous evaluation of the project proposal was undertaken in line with the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency Act and the Private Public Partnership Guidelines. Under the proposed commercial joint venture, the Mosi Oa Tunya Development Company will contribute 271,5 hectares of Jafuta Estate as equity-in kind, valued at US$25,6 million.
On its part, the JR Goddard Consortium, which comprises of four companies namely: JR Goddard, Sesani; Stewart Scott Zimbabwe; and GGF Africa, will provide US$66,9 million investment for the construction of the bulk infrastructure. The shareholding structure will be 39 percent for the Mosi Oa Tunya Development Company and 61 percent for JR Goddard Consortium.
Cabinet noted that if implemented, the project will unlock numerous benefits to the country including catalysing high-value investment, sovereign asset utilisation, strategic diversification of the tourism economy with world class infrastructure, sustainable fiscal contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), downstream job creation and the socio-economic upliftment of communities.
Ultimately, the project is expected to catapult the transformation of Victoria Falls into a modern and vibrant economic development city, fulfilling the attainment of Vision 2030.
Additionally, the joint venture will incorporate a 25-year structured profit recoup period, under the management of a proportionally represented board chaired by Mosi Oa Tunya Development Company and will be guided by the governance framework to ensure strategic alignment with the objectives of the country’s National Development Strategy 2.
REPORTS ON PRIORITY PROJECTS FOR THE FIRST 100-DAY CYCLE OF 2026
Cabinet received reports on progress made in the implementation of priority projects for the First 100-Day Cycle of 2026, as presented by the Ministers of Skills Audit and Development; Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion; and Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services.
In terms of the Science, Technology, Innovation and Human Capital Development thematic area of the National Development Strategy 2, the Skills Audit and Development Minister Jenfan Muswere highlighted the following key achievements under his purview:
Conducting a Phase 3 skills audit in agriculture which is now at 30 percent completion nationwide; and
Development of a skills development policy which now awaits validation by key stakeholders;
Under the Job Creation, Youth Development, Creative industry and Culture, Dr Muswere highlighted the following projects:
Implementation of a retired experts database project for at least 375 retired experts in Harare Metropolitan Province, which is now 50 percent complete;
Completion of the diaspora skills database in Harare Metropolitan Province which has been completed;
Facilitation of provincial skills fair competitions in five provinces – Matabeleland South, Matabeleland North, Mashonaland West and Mashonaland Central –which is now 80 percent complete.
In terms of the Macroeconomic stability and financial sector stability thematic area under the National Development Strategy 2, Prof Mthuli highlighted the following key achievements under his purview:
Implementation of the 2026 Budget Employment Costs;
Strengthening the purchasing power of the ZiG currency and entrenching its usage and bringing down inflation to 3,8 percent by February 2026;
Promoting the wider circulation of the ZiG and its availability in all denominations;
Construction of ZIMRA Forbes staff cottages in Manicaland Province which is now 81 percent complete;
Construction of the ZIMRA Plumtree drones operation area in Matabeleland South Province, which is 90 percent complete;
Implementation of the financial sector strategy project which is almost complete; and
Operationalisation of the International Financial Services Centre.
In terms of the Infrastructural and Development Housing Thematic Area of NDS2, the Prof Ncube highlighted the following projects under his purview:
Construction of 30×3 bedroomed cluster housing units in Kadoma, Mashonaland West Province, with seven units having been completed;
Construction of Catholic University of Zimbabwe Students Accommodation Project which is now at 25 percent;
Construction of a 5-megawatt solar plant in Gutu, Masvingo Province; and the development of Spitzkop housing stands project in Gwanda District, Matabeleland South Province, where 133 residential stands have been serviced;
Under the Food Security and Nutrition, Value Addition and Beneficiation Thematic Area of NDS2, Prof Ncube highlighted the following projects:
Strengthening production capacity of the dry tomato powder project in Bulawayo Metropolitan Province;
Strengthening financial inclusion in the women tri-cycle project in Mashonaland East and Manicaland Provinces;
Establishment of the tins feed master project in Bulawayo Metropolitan Province; and
In the thematic area of Human Capital Development and Health of NDS2, Prof Ncube highlighted the establishment of the Kumba Care Private Limited Project in Dzivarasekwa and Chiweshe in Harare Metropolitan and Mashonaland Central Provinces, respectively.
In terms of the Image Building, International Relations and Trade thematic Area of NDS2 2, the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Zhemu Soda, highlighted the following projects under his purview:
Conducting tours to major infrastructure and development projects in three provinces under the NDS2 Communication Project;
Implementation of the radio transmitter upgrade at Montrose, Bulawayo Metropolitan Province which is now 60 percent completion;
Upgrading of the outside radio broadcasting van at Montrose Studio, Bulawayo Metropolitan Province which stands at 40 percent;
Modernisation of Mbare Radio Studio in Harare Metropolitan Province which is now 30 percent complete;
Equipping the Pockets Hill radio news booths in Harare Metropolitan Province which is now 70 percent complete; and
Ongoing information awareness and educational programmes conducted through the community mobile cinematography project in Matabeleland South Province.
