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Cabinet received an update on summer crops marketing and winter wheat production, which was presented by the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Hon Dr Anxious Jongwe Masuka.
Cabinet wishes to inform the nation that as at 9 July, 2023, the Grain Marketing Board had in stock a total of 204 084 tonnes of maize and 41 464 tonnes of traditional grains. Millers and stock-feed manufacturers are being allocated 27 000 tonnes, Silo Foods 16 000 tonnes per month, and an additional 10 000 tonnes will be sold to Rwanda. The available grain will last 5,6 months. This shows that Zimbabwe has sufficient grain to carry it through to the next season.
Regarding wheat, the country’s current stocks stand at 140 029 tonnes, which are sufficient to provide 8 months cover. The monthly allocation stands at 21 000 tonnes. Considering that the country is wheat self-sufficient, discussions are underway with neighbouring countries on possible wheat exports. Cabinet wishes to highlight that 69.8 percent of the country’s wheat is being produced by A1 farmers.
The nation is informed that a record 86 466 hectares have been put under wheat compared to 80 882 hectares last year. The area planted is 14.5 percent above the initial target of 85 000 hectares, and 96 percent of the revised target of 90 000 hectares. The bulk of the planted wheat or 69.8 percent is by resettled farmers (A1 and A2), while the communal farmers contributed 6.95 percent. The bulk of the planted wheat is now at vegetative stage and is in good condition. Quelea bird control activities are underway, including the aerial spraying of nesting points using drones. The required pesticides are also readily available.
Under Summer Crops Marketing, it is being highlighted that a cumulative 49 694 tonnes comprising 33 008 tonnes of maize, 9 095 tonnes of traditional grains, 4 780 tonnes of soya bean and 2 773 tonnes of sunflower have been delivered to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) as at 9 July, 2023. Mashonaland West had the highest maize, soyabean and sunflower intake, while Mashonaland Central was highest in traditional grains production. Midlands is increasingly becoming a maize producer of repute, surpassing Mashonaland East in overall production. An additional 300 000t of maize will be mobilised to provide cover up to June next year at the current allocation rate of 43 000t per month.
On tobacco marketing, the nation is informed that a country record of 286 872 954 kilogrammes valued at US$868 864 119 million was sold during the tobacco selling season. This translates to US$868 864 119 million accruing to farmers as income. The average price for the current marketing season is higher than the price recorded in 2022.
The Tobacco Transformation Plan is aiming at tobacco becoming a 300 million kilogramme crop, with a US$5 billion tobacco industry by 2025. Preparations for the 2023/24 season are already underway with seed sales equivalent to 91 380 hectares compared to 76 483 hectares the previous season, which is a 16 percent increase.
On seed cotton intake, a total of 63 181 516 kilogrammes had been delivered to 4 Contractors by 6 July, 2023 compared to the 15 512 710 kilogrammes at the same time last year. The seed cotton intake has surpassed the 2022 deliveries by 407 percent. The prices are ranging between US$0.34 and US$0.40 per kilogramme.
Cabinet deliberated at length on the importance of paying farmers on time for the delivery of all crops, and Government is seized with accelerating payments for the deliveries. This will ensure that the record-high agricultural production figures and the transformative agenda are sustained.
2.0 Nominations For The 2023 Honours And Awards
Cabinet adopted the Report on Nominations for the 2023 Honours and Awards, which was presented by the The Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care, Hon. Gen. (Rtd) Dr CGDN Chiwenga, as chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Honours and Awards.
As the nation may recall, the Second Republic has since 2021 consistently honoured the nation’s sons and daughters of the soil and other deserving persons who have been found befitting of recognition. Bestowing honours and awards encourages individuals to strive to excel in serving the nation, and defending the country. The underlying ethos behind the honours and awards is to create an increasing pool of inspirational role models for the wider citizenry. This is critical when one considers the challenges that the youth have to overcome in this era of dangerous social vices.
Cabinet resolved to honour Dr Sikhulile Moyo, the Angel of Hope Foundation, Ambassador Mary Mubi and Dr Agnes Mahomva.
Dr Sikhulile Moyo will be bestowed with the Order of the Great Zimbabwe Award in Silver. The Order of the Great Zimbabwe is the second highest after the ceremonial Grand Master of the Legion of Merit and is conferred on Zimbabweans for supreme sacrifice in the development and survival of the nation.
Dr Moyo is being considered for recognition for identifying the Omnicron variant of the COVID-19 virus in November 2021 while he was stationed at the Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Laboratory.
He has received other accolades for his distinguished work, and it is befitting that Zimbabwe honours him among its illustrious sons who have stood up to be counted among the world’s best.
The Angel of Hope Foundation will be conferred with the Jairos Jiri Humanitarian Award in Gold, in recognition of its dedication to the betterment of humanity through rendering humanitarian service. The Angel of Hope Foundation is a vehicle that Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, the First Lady, uses to carry out her social responsibility work. The foundation is leading communities in fighting drug and substance abuse, child marriages and teen pregnancies, moral decay, and is championing cultural revitalization and environmental protection.
Ambassador Mary Mubi and Dr Agnes Mahomva will be conferred with the Order of the Star of Zimbabwe Award in silver. Ambassador Mubi led the showcasing of Zimbabwe to the world in two world expos, the Milan World Expo 2015 in Italy as deputy commissioner-general and the 2020 Expo Dubai of 2021 to 2022 as commissioner-general. Ambassador Mubi also led the national branding exercise on Zimbabwe, where provinces were able to establish areas of sustainable competitive advantage, which work is feeding into the current branding exercise. In these roles she has ensured that Zimbabwe’s story is told, at the same time providing an additional platform for re-engagement and attracting the much-needed foreign direct investment.
Dr Agnes Mahomva exceptionally coordinated Zimbabwe’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. She is a distinguished public health practitioner of more than 30 years experience. She was thrust in the hot seat and entrusted with ensuring that Zimbabwe mounted a robust response to the Pandemic, and developed a coordination mechanism that was as agile as it was efficient and effective. Her coordination meant that Zimbabwe was always on top of the Pandemic, leading to the global recognition of Zimbabwe’s exceptional response which saved innumerable lives.
The nation is further advised that in recognition of the roles played by Comrade Robert Gabriel Mugabe and Dr. Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo, who selflessly dedicated their lives for the liberation of Zimbabwe, Cabinet approved the erection of statues in Harare. The statue of Cde RG Mugabe will be erected at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, while the second Dr JMN Nkomo statue will be erected at the trumpet interchange at the intersection of Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo and Glenara Roads.
In honour of the late nationalist and first black medical doctor and physician and first Vice President of the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU), the late Dr Tichafa Samuel Parirenyatwa, a statue will be erected at an appropriate entrance to the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals. Heany Junction, the place where his body was dumped having been killed at Shangani, will also be renamed after him and a granite pedestal erected to signify and immortalise the site.
Government recognizes the important role played by war veterans in the liberation and development of the country. To that end, Government is continuing with the process of awarding medals to the veterans.
Furthermore, following the successful vetting exercise of non-combatant cadres and war collaborators by the Ministry of Defence and War Veterans Affairs in 2022, the Second Republic has deemed it fit to confer them with the commemorative Independence Medal in Bronze.
3.0 Provision of title deeds to urban and peri-urban housing developments on State And local authority land
Cabinet considered and approved the provision of title deeds to urban and peri-urban housing developments on State and local authority land, which was presented by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Honourable Ziyambi Ziyambi, as Acting Minister of National Housing and Social Amenities.
The issuance of title deeds to developments on State and local authority land is part of the Presidential Title Deeds and Settlement Regularisation Programme, which was launched by His Excellency the President in Epworth on 22 April 2023. The nation is informed that following the event, the total number of Epworth beneficiaries has increased to 11 200, thereby unlocking value for the recipients through financial inclusion. The programme will be rolled out in other provinces. It is pertinent to note that the Presidential Programme will include the issuance of title deeds to long-standing sitting tenants in local authority houses. Cabinet has further directed that the programme be extended to cover Growth Points and Rural Service Centres. The decision will result in accelerated rural infrastructure development and industrial transformation.
The programme for the provision of title deeds to urban and peri-urban housing developments on State and local authority Land will be implemented through the whole-of-Government Approach, which incorporates a working committee of officials and a special purpose vehicle comprising banks, engineering and construction companies in a Public Private Partnership arrangement in order to accelerate implementation of this programme. The special purpose vehicle will implement the programme, while the working committee oversees it. A Ministerial Task Force will, in turn, coordinate the Working Committee of Officials.
Named Kwangu/Ngakwami Presidential Title Deeds Programme Consortium, the special purpose vehicle will, among others, undertake the following functions:
- Provision of the financial and technical support required for the issuance of the title deeds;
- Coordination for the floating of Infrastructure Bonds for purposes of raising additional funding for the Programme; and
- Collection and management of funds.
The programme for the provision of title deeds to urban and peri-urban housing developments on State and local authority land will eliminate the scourge of land barons, in addition to promoting access to land and security of tenure for beneficiaries. In general, the issuance of title deeds will unlock the value of land assets, and improve revenue collection at the national and local levels. The PPP arrangement ensures efficiency and effectiveness in the implementation of the deeds issuance Programme.
4.0 Fifa Lifts Zimbabwe’s Ban From international Football
The Minister of Youth, Sports, Arts and Recreation, Honourable Dr Kirsty Coventry formally advised Cabinet that the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) had lifted their suspension of Zimbabwe from the international game yesterday. Accordingly, the Minister together with other football stakeholders addressed a Press Conference this morning on the lifting of the suspension. A normalization committee has been appointed to run the affairs of ZIFA in the interim.
5.0 Financial Support For Micro, Small And Medium Enterprises And Women-Owned Businesses
Cabinet received a Report on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and Women Owned Businesses by the Minister of Women Affairs, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Hon. Sithembiso Nyoni.
The nation is being informed that Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises are receiving support to grow their businesses through the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Corporation and the Zimbabwe Women’s Microfinance Bank. The Corporation facilitates the establishment and growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in the country, while the Bank seeks to empower women economically and socially.
Details can be accessed through the relevant Ministry.
6.0 Report On The Outcome Of The National Joint Negotiating Council Meeting
Cabinet received a report on the status of negotiations held by the National Joint Negotiating Council on 7 July 2023 where it was agreed that the current offer of salary adjustments as proposed by Government be effected immediately. The parties further agreed that consultations and negotiations will continue guided by the spirit of continued improvement of the welfare of the Civil Service. The decision by the parties takes cognisance of the need to afford the measures being implemented by the fiscal authorities to take effect.
I THANK YOU!
Online Reporter