Weekly drug abuse awareness campaigns a priority for students: Cabinet

The Minister of Health and Child Care, Honourable Dr Douglas Mombeshora updated Cabinet on the cholera outbreak. The nation is advised that the Minister of Health and Child Care led a delegation to Buhera District on 14th October, 2023. Buhera District has reported a cumulative seven hundred and twenty-six cases of cholera suspected cases, and twenty-seven cumulative cholera deaths with a Case Fatality rate of 3,7 percent. Forty-six (46) were admitted in cholera treatment centres across the district with the epicentre for transmission in Buhera district in Murambinda.

The main drivers of the cholera outbreak in Buhera District included lack of safe water and use of river water. Pertaining to the Buhera District Cholera Response, Cabinet approved as follows: that doctors be deployed to visit all cholera treatment centres in the district; that more staff be mobilised to support the cholera treatment centres; that the setting up of cholera treatment camps and oral rehydration points closer to the community be finalised; that eight boreholes be drilled in the district; and that community engagement and capacity building of traditional and religious leaders on public health measure to control cholera be intensified; that all funerals in Buhera district should be supervised; and that cholera education will be intensified in schools.

In order to forestall a possible increase in cholera cases around the country, Cabinet in general approved as follows: that there be Intensified Risk Communication and Community Engagement in the cholera response; that cholera tests kits be sourced for the rural community centres; that all boreholes be fully equipped; that all deaths be documented and burials be supervised; and that there be continued intensified public health measures to contain the outbreak.

REPORT BY THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE INTER-MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON DRUG AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Cabinet received a report on drug and substance abuse as presented by the chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Committee and Minister of Defence, Honourable OCZ Muchinguri-Kashiri.

The nation is being informed that Government continues to heighten the fight against illegal inflow of illicit drugs, substances as well as alcohol throughout the country.

A total of 468 (402 male and 66 female) offenders were arrested. Out of the 468 offenders, 36 were suppliers who were referred to court, whilst 432 were drug users and consumers who paid deposit fines. Raids were conducted during the period under review and drugs were confiscated.

A total of four bases were destroyed from three provinces, that is, two in Harare Metropolitan (Mbare and Epworth), one in Midlands (Gweru CBD) and one in Mashonaland West (Gwayagwaya Shopping Centre).

Cabinet wishes to inform the nation that the Liquor Licensing Board conducted alcohol outlets compliance inspections across the country in the cities, municipalities, towns and rural areas. A total of 244 bottle stores, 197 bars, 90-night clubs and 145 other outlets were monitored for compliance purposes. These inspections have enhanced the compliance of alcohol outlets.

Cabinet advises that Primary, Higher and Tertiary Education Institutions carried out drug and substance abuse awareness campaigns to students. Weekly Awareness campaigns continue to be a priority, and the collective campaigns in the primary and secondary education levels has reached 16 825 learners (4 155 male and 12 670 female). Community outreaches are being carried out through Information, Education and Communication materials.

The nation is advised that the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) seized an unregistered consignment of drugs. The case was referred to the Zimbabwe Republic Police CID Department and investigations are underway. The nation is further informed that religious groups continue to scale up the fight against drug and substance abuse. The Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs in Zimbabwe carried out awareness campaigns reaching 1 908 Muslim communities from 1 328 Mosques across the ten provinces.

Furthermore, the United Churches Council of Zimbabwe conducted a meeting which benefitted 150 residents at Hope Fountain in Bulawayo, while an estimated 1 200 congregants from Johanne Masowe yeChipiri underwent a similar programme in Zaka District.

Cabinet wishes to inform the nation that 198 (184 male and 14 female) patients received drug rehabilitation services inclusive of treatment, medical detoxification and rehabilitation services to all referred and walk-in clients.

In view of the foregoing, Cabinet resolved as follows:

a) that Provincial Taskforce Teams should strengthen support to all district programme activities and ensure that Chiefs, Church leaders and all local political leaders are actively involved;

b) that the Drug and Substance Abuse Programme should be aligned to the Civil Protection Unit which is comprehensive;

c) that the Resource Mobilisation Committee be chaired by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works and utilise resource mobilisation structures in Civil Protection;

d) that the Command Centre be activated in order to fully support the program in its day to day operation; and

e) that Parliamentarians be integrated in Drug and Substance Programming at Sub-National structures.

PROTOCOL TO THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON HUMAN AND PEOPLE’S RIGHTS OF CITIZENS TO SOCIAL PROTECTION AND SOCIAL SECURITY

Cabinet considered and approved the signing and ratification of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights of Citizens to Social Protection and Social Security as presented by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Honourable Ziyambi Ziyambi, as the Chairperson of the Cabinet Committee on Legislation.

The nation is being informed that the Protocol provides for the right to social protection and social security to all citizens in a non-discriminatory manner. It extends the right to vulnerable groups like women, children, persons with disabilities, and informal rural communities, with the aim of changing lives and eradicating poverty.

The nation is advised that the Protocol provides for instances where social assistance should be rendered, and when citizens should make social protection contributions that will protect them during maternity, retirement or sickness among others. The State is also obliged to adequately fund social protection systems, the health sector, the agricultural sector as well as other relevant sectors to eradicate poverty.

INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON THE PROTECTION OF THE RIGHTS OF ALL MIGRANT WORKERS AND MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILIES

Cabinet considered and approved Zimbabwe’s accession to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of all Migrant Workers and Members of their families, as presented by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Honourable Ziyambi Ziyambi, as the Chairperson of the Cabinet Committee on Legislation.

The nation is being informed that the Convention is a comprehensive International Treaty focusing on the protection of the Rights of all Migrant Workers and members of their families, as required by the International Labour Organisation and various instruments concerning human rights, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It seeks to address the vulnerability of migrant workers and members of their families in foreign lands.

The Convention provides migrant workers and their families the following rights, among others: to leave any State including their State of origin; to enter and remain in their State of origin; to hold opinions without interference; to freedom of thought and equal protection from heavy penalties; not to be subjected to torture or to cruel or inhuman treatment; not to be arbitrarily deprived of property; the right to protection and assistance from consular or diplomatic authorities of their State; and the right to equal working conditions with nationals of the State.

PREPARATIONS TO HOST THE 44TH SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY (SADC) SUMMIT IN 2024.

The nation is being informed that Zimbabwe, as the incoming Chair of the regional organisation, will host the Summit in Harare, at the new Parliament Building in Mt Hampden, in August 2024. Ten (10) Sub-Committees at Senior Officials level, each with a lead Ministry, have been set up to coordinate the thematic areas under their purview.

The nation will be kept abreast of developments on the matter.

UPDATE ON PREPARATIONS ON ZIMBABWE’S PARTICIPATION AT OSAKA EXPO 2025

The nation is being informed that Zimbabwe will participate at the Osaka Expo 2025 to be held in Japan from 13 April to 13 October 2025, which will be held under the theme “Designing Future Society for our Lives”.

His Excellency the President has already approved that Zimbabwe hosts its National Day on 16 July 2025.

REPORT ON THE RETREAT OF AFRICAN UNION MINISTERS OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND MINISTERS OF FINANCE ON THE EVALUATION OF AGENDA 2063 AND ACCELERATING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SECOND TEN-YEAR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN: 1 – 3 OCTOBER 2023, KIGALI, RWANDA

The Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation Science and Technology Development as Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Honourable A. Murwira, briefed Cabinet on the Retreat of African Union Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Ministers of Finance on the evaluation of Agenda 2063 and accelerating the implementation of the Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan.

The nation is being informed that the retreat took place in Kigali, Rwanda from October 1 – 3, 2023 under the theme “Accelerating the Implementation of Agenda 2063”.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the outcomes of the evaluation of the First Ten-Year Implementation Plan of Agenda 2063 and provide strategic direction for the Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan, as well as provide guidance on financing mechanisms and division of labour for the successful implementation of the Second Ten-Year Plan.

Regarding implementation of projects under the First Decade of Agenda 2063, the nation is advised that the Covid-19 pandemic, the world food crisis, the impact of climate change as well as debt servicing constrained member states in their implementation of Agenda 2063 during the First Ten-Year Implementation Plan. The nation is however advised that considerable progress was recorded in the implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AFCTA) and the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM)

On financing of Agenda 2063, the Meeting noted the skewed allocation of resources by the African Union towards peace and security at the expense of the other six aspirations of the First Ten-Year Plan.

The meeting agreed that the success of the Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan will be achieved through leveraging on the National Development Plans.