Online Reporter
We publish here the 33rd post Cabinet media briefing presented by Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere, in Harare yesterday.
Cabinet considered and approved the proposal for the user pays principle to compensate for Government housing projects implemented on private indigenous-owned and other properties or farms and urban State land.
Under the principle, beneficiaries of the Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle programme will be required to pay for the total development costs inclusive of the value of land, cost of servicing and any other associated costs.
The Government will facilitate negotiations between the indigenous and other land owners and the beneficiaries, thereby allowing the residents to purchase the land directly over an agreed period of time.
One such notable property is the 1 065.7-hectare Whitecliff Farm in Harare where 11 000 families are settled.
The Government and Eddies Pfugari Estate agreed on US$44 million as compensation for the land.
Some of the benefits of adopting the user pay principle are:
Beneficiaries are assured of security of tenure as they will be issued with title deeds under the Presidential Title Deeds Programme.
The issuance of title deeds will add value to the properties.
Beneficiaries will have access to basic services.
They will enjoy the benefits of properly planned settlements.
It will be easy to enforce order in such settlements and reduction in criminality.
The Government and local authorities will realise revenue in the form of rates and levies paid by the beneficiaries.
The model will be replicated in all areas where beneficiaries of Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle projects built homes on private land, or where regularisation has revealed that occupants were residing on privately-owned land belonging to indigenous and other people or on illegally occupied State land. An inter-ministerial committee will run the project.
UPDATE ON LITHIUM BENEFICIATION – PROSPECT LITHIUM ZIMBABWE
Cabinet considered the update on lithium beneficiation by Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe, which operates the Arcadia Lithium Mine and is investing US$400 million in the construction of a lithium sulphate plant.
The plant is the first of its kind in Zimbabwe and Africa, which incorporates cutting-edge technology for lithium sulphate production.
Lithium sulphate is a direct input into battery-making and in addition also has other uses in the manufacturing sector.
The plant is currently under construction at the Goromonzi site and is made up of three production lines, each with a feed of 500 000 tonnes per annum of concentrate.
The first line is scheduled to go into production in January 2026, with the second and third lines scheduled for April 2026.
The plant is designed to produce 80 000 tonnes of lithium sulphate per annum, and is set to create more than 1 000 jobs
It will generate US$320 million in revenue and position Zimbabwe into a space to move into electric vehicle manufacturing.
PRIORITY PROJECTS FOR THE 3RD 100-DAY CYCLE OF 2025 AS AT DAY 50
Cabinet considered and noted progress reports as presented by the Ministers of Tourism and Hospitality Industry; Energy and Power Development; and Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.
Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi reported progress as follows:
Mutare Sports Club has been renovated and completed.
Hot Springs Resort renovation of ablution facilities, restoration of swimming pool, perimeter fencing and landscaping are ongoing.
Work at Grand Reef Airport is at 80 percent overall completion, with fencing completed and refurbishment of buildings is at 70 percent.
Tamarind Lodges in Nyanga construction of conference facilities, kitchen and restaurant is 80 percent complete.
Tamarind Hotel in Kariba soft finishings are at 90 percent and furnishing is 80 percent in terms of completion of the 65-roomed hotel.
Construction of five chalets at Holy Cross Dam has been completed.
Construction of media centres at Victoria Falls cricket stadium is at 50 percent, while construction of training pitch is at 70 percent.
AATC Hotel in Harare Metropolitan building structure is now complete with hard fittings up to the 4th floor completed and conference facility at 80 percent completion.
Masvingo Hotel is set for completion by end of next month.
Beautification of Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport is 15 percent complete.
Mosi-Oa-Tunya in Victoria Falls construction of office block project is now 70 percent complete.
Energy and Power Development Minister July Moyo reported progress as follows:
100MW Massive Prestige thermal captive power project in Beitbridge is 75 percent complete.
5MW Guruve solar power plant is expected to be commissioned by the end of the cycle.
New Glovers 10MW solar plant in Kwekwe is 85 percent complete.
20MW Dinson thermal power plant t in Hwange is 70 percent complete
Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital; Gwanda Provincial Hospital; and Gweru Provincial Hospital lights retrofitting is expected to be completed by the end of the cycle in December 2025.
Construction of Ruwa LPG storage facility is 85 percent complete.
Mutambwi Institutional grid extension has been completed and is awaiting commissioning.
Zendele Primary School in Gwanda solar mini grid is 70 percent complete.
St Antony Zvidhuri Institutions grid extension completed with the construction of 8.7km of HV line to St Chad Mapimbu Primary School still outstanding.
Chief Chireya institutions grid extension has been completed and is awaiting official commissioning.
Dombo institutions grid extensions is expected to be commissioned by the end of the cycle.
Sherwood 175MVA transformer project is 75 percent complete.
Orange Groove transformer project has been completed and commissioned.
Smart metering project in all provinces is 65 percent complete.
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi reported progress as follows:
The Deeds Automation and Digitalisation project has recorded significant progress and is on target for completion by the end of the year.
Gwanda New Court Complex is 90 percent complete; Kwekwe New Magistrate Court is 65 percent complete, while Cowdray Park New Magistrate Court is 40 percent complete.
The Integrated Electronic Case Management System project is progressing fairly well, and all targets are being met within specified deadlines.
Capacitation of 335 inmates (130 Anju Prison, 60 Mazowe Prison, 75 Mutimurefu Prison, and 70 at Hurungwe Prison in agriculture production projects) was done in anticipation of successful re-integration into society and reduction of rehabilitated inmates receding back to criminal behaviour.
Capacitation of 64 Building Brigade inmates (18 Anju Prison, 18 Gwanda Prison, 18 Beitbridge Prison and 10 Mutare Prison) was done in brick work super structure, roof structure and carpentry, plumbing, finishings and external works with the aim of reducing shortage of institutional accommodation at these institutions.
Capacitation of 100 inmates at MacDonald Bricks Inmates employment programme.
ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INTER-MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Cabinet received and approved the establishment of an Inter-Ministerial Committee on Intellectual Property.
The committee is being established to strengthen the administration and coordination of intellectual property matters, which is currently being executed in an uncoordinated and fragmented manner.
Chaired by the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, itwill comprise the Ministries of Industry and Commerce; Health and Child Care; Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development; Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development; Higher and Tertiary Education, Science, Innovation, Science and Technology Development; Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture; Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion; Foreign Affairs and International Trade; Tourism and Hospitality Industry; and the Zimbabwe Intellectual Property Office.
The role of the committee y will be to advise Government on all Intellectual Property (IP) matters, and ensure compliance with Government’s obligations under the various regional and international instruments which Zimbabwe is party to.
It will also be responsible for coordinating the execution of all intellectual property matters by ministries, departments and agencies in order to eliminate duplication and streamline Intellectual Property services.
Furthermore, the committee will coordinate and lead consultative and engagement processes with stakeholders and partners on emerging intellectual property matters and global developments.
UPDATE ON WINTER WHEAT PRODUCTION AND MARKETING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE 2025 SEASON
Cabinet was formally briefed that Zimbabwe is poised to register another record wheat production during the 2025 season. From a modest volume of 94 685 tonnes in 2019, to 562 091 tonnes in 2024, Zimbabwe is only one of two jurisdictions on the African continent that have become wheat self-sufficient.
This is testament to the President Mnangagwa’s visionary leadership.
During the current season, cumulatively 588 470 tonnes have been harvested from 113 077 hectares.
This volume already surpasses last year’s record production of 562 091 tonnes.
An additional 9489 hectares of the 122 566ha planted should be harvested
