National committee to eliminate drug, substance abuse approved

Cabinet received an update report on the cholera outbreak response, which was presented by the Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care, Honourable Gen (Rtd) Dr CGDN Chiwenga.

Cabinet is informing the nation that fourteen African countries have now reported cholera outbreaks in 2023, with a cumulative 160 756 suspected cholera cases have been reported in the African region, including 3 288 deaths as of 4 April 2023. As of 16 April 2023, Zimbabwe’s cumulative suspected cholera cases stood at 457, with 438 recoveries and 2 deaths. Eight of the ten provinces continue reporting cholera cases with the exceptions of Matabeleland North province and Midlands province. Matabeleland South province has recorded 158 cases while Manicaland Province has 118.

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 should continue, with a focus to address water and sanitation; and

(b) That the Ministry of Health and Child Care, should work closely with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development to ensure timely release of funds to facilitate the cholera response.

ZIMBABWE’S RESPONSE TO THE Covid-19 PANDEMIC, AND REPORT ON THE PROCUREMENT AND ROLL-OUT OF VACCINES

Cabinet received an update on the Country’s Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic, and a Report on the Procurement and Roll-Out of Vaccines, as presented by the Chairman of the Ministers’ Committee on the National Covid-19 Response, Vice President Chiwenga.

The nation is being informed that since the outbreak of Covid-19 in 2020, Zimbabwe’s cumulative cases have reached 264 610, with 258 859 recoveries and 5 684 deaths. However, no deaths were recorded during the week under review, compared to the 4 reported the previous week. By the end of the week, only seven cases were admitted in hospital, with two of them in intensive care.

The nation is being advised that although the epidemic remains under firm control in our country, with no new variants of the virus reported, there is still need to exercise care in order to avert a resurgence on whatever scale.

Cabinet also wishes to inform the nation that the vaccination programme has made significant progress. Since the launch of the programme, a total of 7 071 703 first doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, and 5 290 580 second and 1 822 202 third doses have so far been administered. The country still has 10 million vaccines in stock, and citizens are urged to come forward and benefit from this Government facility which is intended to protect the entire nation.

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON THE ELIMINATION OF DRUG AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN ZIMBABWE

Cabinet considered and approved the proposed structures for the establishment of the National Committee on the Elimination of Drug and Substance abuse in Zimbabwe, which were presented by the Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Hon July Moyo.

The nation is being informed that Cabinet is deeply concerned that the drug and substance abuse scourge in Zimbabwe has reached levels which are wreaking havoc in families and threatening the core of societal norms and values. Most of the dangerous drugs and substances being abused are imported, with the traffickers acting in cahoots with local drug lords and an array of criminal elements in our society. Following Cabinet’s decision at its last meeting to establish an institutional framework to decisively deal with the menace, Cabinet has decided to set up a National Committee on the Elimination of Drug and Substance Abuse.

The committee will be empowered to come up with systematic and sustainable responses that will assist in ensuring that society is free of drug and substance abuse.

Cabinet agreed that the committee will use the time-tested framework which is already operational and is divided into three segments, namely: Search and Rescue; Rehabilitate; and Promote Resilience and Sustainability. The structures of the committee are going to start at the lowest tier and escalate issues from the bottom to the top, as outlined below.

(a) At the community level, the committee will be chaired by traditional leaders and will include: School heads; religious and faith-based organisation leaders; social welfare workers; nurses in charge of rural clinics; village health workers, and other relevant persons at that level.

(b) At the district level, the committee will be chaired by District Development Co-ordinators and supported by district heads of chiefs; district education officers; district heads of religious and faith-based organisations; district social welfare officers; ZRP officers commanding districts; district medical officers; chief executive officers of urban and rural district councils; pharmacist representatives; district youth development officers, and any other relevant persons at that level.

(c) At the provincial level, Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution will co-ordinate the activities of the committee, with support from secretaries for Provincial Affairs and Devolution; provincial education directors; the provincial Joint Operations Command; provincial Chiefs Councils; provincial medical directors; provincial leadership of the National Association of Secondary School Heads (NASH), and National Association of Primary School Heads (NAPH); chief executive officers of urban and rural district councils; provincial youth development officers, and any other persons relevant at that level.

(d) At the national level, the national committee will be chaired by the Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs, deputised by the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage. The national committee will co-ordinate the entire clean-up campaign on drug and substance abuse, and will include all the ministers currently serving on the outgoing Inter-Ministerial Task Force; the Attorney-General; Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution; and the Tripartite of the Chief Secretary, the chairman of the Public Service Commission, Deputy Chief Secretaries, the secretary to the Public Service Commission, and the secretary for Finance and Economic Development.

The leadership of the Joint Operations Command; the president of the Chiefs Council and his deputy; the leadership of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches; the Zimbabwe Indigenous Christian Churches Council: the Catholic Bishops Conference and the Supreme Islamic Council of Zimbabwe.

The academia/Association of University Vice Chancellors, and other relevant representatives of appropriate organisations, will complete the membership of the national committee.

Furthermore, the current task force is being transformed into a national technical committee chaired by the secretary for Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare deputised by the secretary for Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage.

The technical committee membership will include the following: the secretary to the Public Service Commissions; heads of the ministries constituting the national committee; selected thematic working group chairpersons of the National Development Strategy 1 : 2021-25; secretaries for Provincial Affairs and Devolution; head of the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe; chief executive officers of medical aid societies; representatives of health councils; selected representatives of pharmacists; chief executive officers of selected State enterprises and parastatals; representatives of Cross-Border Traders Associations; the leadership of youth associations; representatives of persons with disabilities; provincial leadership of religious organisations as spelt out in (d) above; representatives of civil society organisations, and other relevant participants at that level.

The technical committee will be co-ordinated by the deputy chief secretary for social services in the Office of the President and Cabinet, in a manner akin to the current arrangements for the management of the Covid-19 pandemic. The national committee chairman will present the consolidated report to an enlarged Cabinet which incorporates representatives selected by His Excellency the President from the national committee.

THE ZIMBABWE EARLY LEARNING POLICY

The Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Honourable Prof Dr A Murwira, as chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Human Capital Development, Skills Audit and Employment Creation, briefed Cabinet on the Zimbabwe National Early Learning Policy.

Cabinet approved the policy which will strengthen and harmonise the implementation of infant education and ensure high-quality early learning programmes. All children should access quality and inclusive early learning opportunities, in conducive environments.

In 2014, early childhood education was officially introduced into the formal school as part of the infant school module, with primary school education becoming a 9-year course.

The infant school module caters for learners in ECD A (4 years); ECD B (5 years); Grade 1 (6 years); and Grade 2 (7 years). The curriculum is learner-centred, and places emphasis on learner competencies rather than superficial knowledge thereby exposing learners to both hard and soft skills, which are requisite in solving problems.

Given the above learner-centred thrust being pursued, the policy aims at attaining the following objectives:

Guaranteeing that all children learn in a healthy, safe and child-friendly environment;
Strengthening the governance and coordination of the infant school module;
Mobilising of resources for increased allocation and prudent management of resources;
Enhancing the quality of early learning services for improved learning outcomes; and
Building the capacity of families and local communities to support early learning activities.

The policy will be implemented over a 5-year period spanning 2023 to 2027, and is supported by a detailed and costed implementation plan.

SUNDRY INITIATIVES TOWARDS ACHIEVEMENT OF A US$12 BILLION MINING INDUSTRY BY 2023

The Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Honourable Winston Chitando, presented update on the following proposed initiatives to unlock value in the mining sector:

Responsible mining initiative;
Diamonds and related matters; and
Lithium ore policy.

RESPONSIBLE MINING AUDIT

Cabinet agreed that for a period of two months, May and June 2023, a Responsible Mining audit will be conducted countrywide. The objective of the Initiative is to ensure that all mining operations are conducted in accordance with the country’s laws.

The audit team will comprise members from the following ministries, departments and agencies: Mines and Mining Development; Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development; Local Government and Public Works; Energy and Power Development; Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry; Departments of Immigration; and Labour; the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority; the Environmental Management Agency; and the Zimbabwe Republic Police.

The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development will coordinate the audit which is set to start on 10 May, 2023.

Full article on: www.herald.co.zw

DIAMONDS AND RELATED MATTERS

The nation is being informed that Zimbabwe will host the Kimberley Process intersessional meeting in Victoria Falls in May 2023.

LITHIUM ORE POLICY

Cabinet approved the Lithium Ore Policy and a Statutory Instrument will be issued on Lithium, based on the following principles:

any individual or entity owing a lithium concession can mine lithium ores for either:

(i) processing at its own Approved Processing Plant (APP), or

(ii) for sale to those with Approved Processing Plants locally.

any individual and or entity wishing to process lithium ores will be required to construct an Approved Processing Plant locally;
ore movement permits for lithium ores will only be issued where such ores are destined for a local Approved Processing Plant;
Lithium ores can only be stored at the mining site where such ores were mined, or at a approved for local Approved Processing Plant;

5.any entity will require a Lithium Ore Purchase Licence to buy ores from miners. A local Approved Processing Plant will be a condition for obtaining getting the Lithium Ore Purchase Licence.

all players in the lithium sector, whether miners or holders of Approved Processing Plant, shall submit a summary of monthly reconciliations of ore movements to the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development; and
for any material to qualify as a concentrate for approval for export, it shall meet the minimum set technical specifications and the minimum selling price as set by the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe on a regular basis.

REPORT ON THE SECOND ROUND CROP, LIVESTOCK AND FISHERIES ASSESSMENT

Cabinet received a report on the Second Round Crop, Livestock and Fisheries Assessment, which was presented by the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr. A.J. Masuka.

Cabinet wishes to inform the nation that despite the uneven start and distribution of rains during the 2022/2023 Summer Season, the prospects for high yields now look bright, following the Crop, Livestock and Fisheries Assessment which has been completed. The estimated maize production is 2 298 281 tonnes (MT), a 58 percent increase on the 2021/2022 season; traditional grains production is estimated at 280 966 MT, a 45 percent increase on the 2021/2022 figure; sorghum production is expected to be 191 125 MT, which is 32 percent more than production in the 2021/2022 season; pearl millet production is expected to be 171 221 MT, which is 61 percent more than what was produced in 2021/2022 season; and finger millet production is expected to be 18 610 MT, which is 250 percent more than what was produced in the 2021/2022 season.

The total cereal production is 2 579 247 MT, against a national cereal requirement of 1 837 742 MT for human consumption and 450 000 MT for livestock, leaving a surplus. Cotton production for the 2022/2023 season is estimated at 152 472 MT, a 3 percent increase from the previous season; tobacco production is estimated at 234 745 MT, reflecting a 9 percent increase on the 2021/2022 season; soya bean production is estimated at 93 089 MT, a 13 percent increase on the 2021/2022 season; groundnut production increased by 118 percent from 98 765 MT in the 2021/2022 season to 214 145 MT this season; sugar bean increased by 23 percent to 31 274 MT in 2022/2023;

In the horticulture sub-sector, there is an overall increase in production of horticultural crops for the 2022/2023 season with growth registered in the production of the following crops blueberries, tea, irish potato, onions, tomatoes, oranges, apples, macadamia nuts and bananas among others.

In the livestock production and development sector, Cabinet is informing the nation that in 2022, the national beef herd increased from 5 509 933 cattle in 2021 to 5 642 400 cattle, reflecting a 2 percent increase. Total milk production increased by 15 percent, from 79 607 573 litres in 2021 to 91 396 061 litres in 2022, while broiler meat production increased by 32 percent in 2022, from 143 500 tonnes to 191 813 tonnes. Commercial pig slaughters at abattoirs increased by 12 percent in 2022, from 196 152 pigs in 2021 to 219 307 pigs in 2022. Total fish production reached 15 041 MT.

The above production levels were attained using a programmatic approach as the Ministry broadened and deepened efforts to transform agriculture at both scale and pace. The most insightful and impactful programmes were packaged under the Rural Development 8.0. Model comprising eight Presidential Programmes.

The interventions which are expected to catalyse the attainment of Vision 2030 include the following: the Presidential Climate-Proofed Inputs Scheme; the Presidential Climate-Proofed Cotton Scheme; the Presidential Rural Development Programme; the Presidential Blitz Tick Grease Scheme; the Presidential Community Fisheries Scheme; the Presidential Poultry Scheme; the Presidential Goat Scheme and the Vision 2030 Accelerator Model.

The Second Republic will continue to ensure that these interventions uplift people out of poverty towards the attainment of Vision 2030. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is now expected to increase from the current projection of 4 percent to 6 percent on account of the positive performance of the agricultural sector. Accordingly, Government will assist farmers in processing and marketing their produce. In particular, coffee producers in Manicaland will be assisted through the setting up of a processing plant, using resources from the Special Drawing Rights facility. Oilseed processing machinery will also be availed as part of a strategy to reduce reliance on imports of cooking oil, with appropriate technologies also being provided for the processing of traditional grains which citizens should consume for their health benefits.

The empowerment programme involving extension officers is continuing alongside the alignment of cropping with agro-ecological regions. More processing plants will be designed for tomatoes. The mechanisation of Pfumvudza/Intwasa will go along way in increasing production. More focus will be placed on export markets for certain crops produced in excess. Furthermore, irrigation schemes will be increased, together with the rehabilitation of dip tanks in order to reduce the incidence of tick-borne diseases.

STATE OF PREPAREDNESS TO HOST THE 62ND EDITION OF THE ZIMBABWE INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR (ZITF)

The Minister of Industry and Commerce Honourable Dr. Sekai Irene Nzenza, presented an Update on the State of Preparedness to host the 63rd Edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Exhibition to be held in Bulawayo on 26-30 April, 2023.

The nation is being advised that the 2023 Zimbabwe International Trade Fair will be held under the theme “Transformative Innovation, Global Competitiveness”. Preparations for the Fair have reached an advanced stage, with around 600 exhibitors already registered, compared to last year’s 471. As the Second Republic’s re-engagement and engagement policy continues to yield tremendous results in facilitating trade and investment, more than 100 participants have registered as first time exhibitors, including the European Union. The foreign nations expected to exhibit include: Botswana; Malawi; Mozambique; South Africa; Zambia; Angola; Kenya; Nigeria; Tanzania; Belarus; France; Germany; Iran; Italy; Japan; the Netherlands; Sweden; the United Arab Emirates; the United Kingdom; China; and the United States of America.

The main highlights of the Fair will include the following:

Official Opening of the Fair on 28 April 2023,
Exclusive Business Days from 25 to 27 April 2023,
the ZITF International Business Conference on 26 April, 2023 which is expected to be attended by over 600 delegates and will be officially opened by the Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care, Gen (Rtd) Hon. C.G.D.N. Chiwenga;
the Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care’s Keynote Address at the Connect Africa Symposium on 27 April, 2023;
the ZITF Diplomats Forum which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade will host on 28 April, 2023;
the ZITF 2023 Charity Golf Challenge at the Bulawayo Golf Club on 27 April, 2023; and
the ZNCC Business Luncheon on 28 April, 2023.

The nation should therefore look forward to a resoundingly successful 2023 Edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair.