Zimbabwe has adequate grain reserves

13th Post-Cabinet Press Briefing May 20, 2025

Today, the 20th of May 2025, His Excellency the President, Dr. E.D. Mnangagwa chaired the 13th Cabinet Meeting and the following issues, among others, were considered and approved:

1.0.Update On 2024-2025 Summer Crops Marketing And 2025 Winter Wheat Production

Cabinet noted the update on 2024-2025 Summer Crops Marketing and 2025 Winter Wheat Production. According to the Second Round Crops, Livestock, and Fisheries Assessment (CLAFA 2) report of 12 April, 2025, the country has adequate grain reserves at national level. In the interim, resources will be made available to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) to facilitate timely payments for anticipated grain deliveries. The construction of 14 grain silo depots is making steady progress at 13 centres across the country, with the Kwekwe depot having been completed and officially commissioned by His Excellency the President, Dr. E.D. Mnangagwa. The 2025 cotton buying season is set to begin on June 1, with prices per grade to be announced upon completion of ongoing consultations. To support the season’s operations, preparations, including the establishment of 211 permanent buying points and 476 mobile buying points, have been completed. As of 16 May 2025, a total of 189 million kilogrammes of tobacco had been sold at an average price of US$3.38 per kilogramme. This represents a 21% increase in volume compared to the same period last season, when 151 million kilogrammes were sold at an average price of US$3.52 per kilogramme. Under the 2025 Winter Cereals Plan, the production targets are set at 600 000 metric tonnes of wheat from 120 000 hectares, 39 000 metric tonnes of barley from 6 500 hectares, and approximately 236 000 metric tonnes of potatoes from around 8 700 hectares. With respect to wheat production, a total of 29 372 hectares have been planted, distributed as follows: Mashonaland West, 9 751; Mashonaland Central, 5 524; Mashonaland East, 4 095; Manicaland, 1 952; Midlands, 3 081; Masvingo, 1 031; Matabeleland North, 1 525; and Matabeleland South, 2 413.

2.0. Review Report Of The 45TH Independence Day Celebrations And The 2025 Cchildren’s Party

Cabinet noted the Review Report of the 45th Independence Day Celebrations and 2025 Children’s Party. The 45th Independence Day Celebrations and 2025 Children’s Party were held in Gokwe North District, Midlands Province, with the main celebrations at Nembudziya Growth Point and the Children’s Party at Nyamuroro High School. Government undertook significant preparatory works for the major event, including the construction of a new 2 000-seater stadium at Nembudziya Open Grounds. In addition to the stadium, various legacy projects were implemented to improve the lives of people in Midlands Province, and Gokwe North District in particular. The projects included the construction and rehabilitation of education infrastructure, such as classrooms, hostels, and laboratories as well as upgrades to cultural heritage sites, liberation struggle memorials, and public facilities. Government also made significant investments in health infrastructure, as follows: refurbishment of the School of Nursing; upgrading of the VVIP ward; and construction of a mortuary. A total of 20 sites offering telemedicine facilities were established and internet connected at the respective rural health centres and Gokwe North District Hospital. Furthermore, water and sanitation projects, including the drilling of boreholes and the repair of existing ones were implemented. The projects also focused on improving infrastructure, including roads, aviation infrastructure, and rural electrification.

Construction of priority roads included among others: the Kadoma-Nembudziya road; the Nembudziya-Gokwe town; the Gokwe-Hovano-Tshoda road; the SanyatiNembudziya road; the Kwekwe-Gokwe road and many other feeder roads. A total of 57 Village Business Units were established and 37 boreholes were repaired, with 12 of them solarised. These initiatives aimed to improve the quality of life for residents in Gokwe North District, aligning with the Government’s mantra of “leaving no one and no place behind”. As an ongoing initiative, Government will undertake continuous reviews to monitor progress on the completion of all legacy projects in provinces that have already hosted the Independence Day Celebrations and Children’s Party events, ensuring timely implementation, efficient project delivery, and accountability.

3.0. Criteria For The Selection Of a Venue For Hosting The Annual Independence Day And Chi ldren’s Party Celebrations

Cabinet considered and approved the criteria for the selection of a Vvenue for hosting the annual Independence Day and Children’s Party celebrations. In the past, the Independence Day Celebrations and Children’s Party events were consolidated in Harare. Notwithstanding this precedent, the 2nd Republic’s Devolution Agenda catalysed a transformative shift, decentralising these events and instituting a rotational format across the 10 provinces, commencing in 2021. The rotation of provinces hosting Independence Day and Children’s Party Celebrations has seen five provinces take turns hosting the events in the following order: Harare, 2021; Bulawayo, 2022; Mashonaland Central, 2023; Manicaland, 2024; and Midlands, 2025. Cabinet approved criteria to determine future hosts for Independence Day Celebrations and Children’s Party events, based on the national Infrastructure Deficit Index. This prioritises provinces with the greatest infrastructure development needs among those that have not yet hosted the Uhuru celebrations. The goal is to use these events to drive infrastructure growth in targeted areas. In accordance with the approved criteria, the Independence Day Celebrations and Children’s Party are scheduled to be held in Matabeleland South Province in 2026 and in Masvingo Province in 2027.

4.0. The Urban Stateland Management Policy

Cabinet considered and approved the Urban Stateland Management Policy. The Urban Stateland Management Policy is a significant step towards addressing Zimbabwe’s urban land management challenges. It aims to engender better value for land resources, enhance accountability, improve efficiency, and usher in a professionalised land management system aligned with Vision 2030. The policy addresses rapid urbanisation issues, such as dysfunctional settlements, speculative activities, and land baronism, while protecting citizens from fraudulent land deals. It clarifies stakeholder roles, provides operational guidelines, and promotes efficient and effective urban state land management. The Policy is built on six interconnected pillars namely: Governance and Decentralisation, Innovation and Technology, Procedures and Processes, Regulatory Framework and Enforcement, Infrastructure Development, and Planning and Compliance. These pillars promote transparency, accountability, efficiency, and compliance, and aim to foster orderly urban development, protect public interests, and enhance the quality of life for urban residents. The policy also promotes innovative financing mechanisms, public-private partnerships, and community engagement to support urban development, ultimately creating sustainable, safe, and environmentally friendly urban environments. The policy has specific objectives and strategies, including leveraging digital tools for efficient land management, establishing clear procedures for land administration, strengthening regulatory frameworks, developing essential urban services, and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.

5.0.Reports On Projects As At Day 50 Of The First 100-DAY Cycle Of 2025

5.1. In terms of the Infrastructure Development Thematic Area of the National Development Strategy 1, the Minister of State for National Security highlighted the following achievements by the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency:

1. Realignment of the 4-kilometre Nzoubvunda Bridge Road in Mashonaland Central Province is ongoing;
2. Top slab construction of Approach A and B of Kambanje Bridge in Mudzi District of Mashonaland East Province is in progress;

iii. Wall construction and backfilling of the Mabori Armco Structure in Mberengwa District, Midlands Province is almost complete;

1. Land for the Phoenix Drag-hose Irrigation Scheme in Mberengwa District, Midlands Province has been identified and drawings have been completed; and
2. Selection of beneficiaries for the Presidential Solarisation Programme is ongoing in all the 8 rural provinces, following.

5.2 Under the Economic Growth and Stability pillar of the National Development Strategy 1, the Minister of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs highlighted the following achievements under her purview: i. Prospecting and pegging of 8 Special Grant areas under the establishment of mining ventures has been completed at the following provincial sites: a. Nyanga in Manicaland, 258 hectares (Gold); b. Mupfure in Mashonaland West, 147 hectares (Gold); c. Mashonaland West, 147 ha (Gold); d. Kadoma, Mashonaland West, 85 ha (Gold); e. Mhangura, Mashonaland West, 600 ha (Gold and Copper); f. Wedza, Mashonaland East, 445 ha (Gold); g. Matabeleland North, 101 ha (Gold); and h. Manicaland, 1 196 ha (Copper);

1. Five Veterans syndicates comprising 372 members have been facilitated in acquiring mining documents;

iii. Establishment of the Sinanga Photographic Safari in Hwange, Matabeleland North is ongoing;

1. Operationalisation of Nyadora Farm and Singleton Farm Projects in Macheke and Chikomba, Mashonaland East Province is on target; and
2. Under the Human Capital Development and Innovation pillar of the National Development Strategy 1, six hundred War Veterans have since been capacitated with skills to make soap, detergents, engine cleaner, degreaser, foam bath and vaseline. 5.3 In terms of the Human Capital Development and Innovation pillar of the National Development Strategy 1, the Minister of Skills Audit and Innovation highlighted the following achievements under his purview:
3. A draft National Scholarship Policy has been produced;
4. Assessment of the Career Guidance landscape in Zimbabwe is ongoing;

iii. Assessment of Technical and Vocational Skills Training facilities for Persons with Disabilities was conducted in Kadoma, Gweru, Bulawayo, Mutare, Masvingo and Harare, and the final draft report was produced; and

1. Cyber security and digital skills training was conducted at the University of Zimbabwe; Harare Institute of Technology; Speciss College; and St. Peters Kubatana Vocational Training Centre.

6.0.Memorandum Of Understanding Between The Republic Of Zimbabwe And The People’s Republic Of China On Paired Hospital Cooperation Mechanism

Under the Legislative Programme, Cabinet considered and approved the Memorandum of Understanding between the Republic of Zimbabwe and the People’s Republic of China on Paired Hospital Cooperation Mechanism. The Memorandum of Understanding seeks to promote cooperation in the fields of health. More specifically, the MoU will establish a cooperative relationship between the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals and the Hunan Provincial People’s Hospital of the People’s Republic of China in the field of respiratory and critical care medicine. The objective is to strengthen construction of respiratory and critical care medicine facilities in Zimbabwe and improve local capacity on prevention, control, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 as well as airway management and respiratory support for critical patients.

7.0 Report On His Excellency The President’s Visit To Russia And Belarus

Cabinet received and noted the Report on the visit to Russia and Belarus by His Excellency the President. His Excellency the President, Cde. Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa participated at the 80th Anniversary of Victory Day which was commemorated in Moscow, Russian Federation on 9 May, 2025. The Victory Day marks the historic triumph of the Soviet Union over Nazi Germany during the Second World War. The President of the Russian Federation, His Excellency Vladimir Putin presided over the commemorations which were also attended by Heads of State and Government from Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Presidents, His Excellency Dr. E.D. Mnangagwa and His Excellency V. Putin held a bilateral meeting during which they discussed initiatives to deepen relations between the two nations. Russia reiterated its support for Zimbabwe’s bid to join the BRICS organisation and its New Development Bank. The Heads of State agreed to identify alternative payment systems in order to boost bilateral trade. On his part, Cde. Mnangagwa re-stated Zimbabwe’s strategic location as a logistics and manufacturing hub for Russian products for industrialisation purposes. President Mnangagwa also met with Embassy officials and students. From Russia, His Excellency the President undertook a State visit to Belarus from 11 to 15 May 2025, at the invitation of the President of Belarus, His Excellency Aleksander Lukashenko. In a bilateral meeting, the two leaders discussed cooperation in several key areas, including Agriculture, Industry, Education and Technology Transfer, Health, and Disaster Management. The Foreign Ministers of Zimbabwe and Belarus signed a roadmap for strategic cooperation for the period 2026 to 2030, providing for reciprocal visits and elevation of their bilateral cooperation framework to a Bi-National by 2030. The Memoranda of Understanding signed between the two countries covered the following areas: Disaster Risk Management; Visa Exemption for holders of Diplomatic and Service Passports; Tourism; Small and Medium Enterprises; and Waste Management. Letters of intent committing to cooperation on revamping healthcare provision starting with the rehabilitation of the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals were also signed. A Business Roundtable comprising Zimbabwean and Belarusian business leaders met to explore cooperation in the mining, dairy, machinery and processed foods sectors.

8.0 Report On The Visit To The Islamic Republic Of Iran By Vice President Hon  Chiwenga

Cabinet received and approved the Iran Report, as presented by the Honourable Vice President, General (Rtd) Dr. C.G.D.N. Chiwenga. Honourable Vice President Chiwenga led a delegation to the 3rd Iran-Africa Economic Conference and the 7th Iran-Expo held in Tehran from 27 April to 1 May, 2025. The conference was aimed at enhancing economic relations between Iran and Africa, focusing on agriculture, mining, science and health sectors which promote socio-economic development. The salient outcomes of the visit include the operationalisation of a Steering Committee to oversee implementation of the following Memoranda of Understanding: Establishment of a Pharmaceutical Plant in Zimbabwe by a Pharmaceutical investment company and NatPharm; Setting up of an Iran Tractor Manufacturing Company Plant in Zimbabwe; Development of a Sustainable Payment System between the Central Banks of the two countries; Finalisation of a Hemodialysis Equipment Lease Agreement, and preparations Zimbabwe to participate at the Global Investment tourism Expo in Gujarat, India from 23 to 25 August, 2025.

9.0 Report On The Official Visit To Rome, Italy By Honourable Vice President Chiwenga

Cabinet received and noted the report on the official visit to Rome, Italy, as presented by the Vice President Honourable, General (Rtd.) Dr. C.G.D.N. Chiwenga. Honourable Vice President Chiwenga undertook an official visit to Rome, Italy from 1 May to 5 May, 2025 where he discussed key economic and diplomatic issues as part of the Second Republic’s re-engagement and engagement drive. Zimbabwe enjoys sound trade relations with Italy, and in 2024 the country imported goods worth US$31.7 million, while exports to Italy were valued at US$34.2 million. It is anticipated that once the country ratifies the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement with Italy, more investments from Italian investors will be unlocked. The Vice President also met with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Director-General, Dr. Qu Dongyu and discussed strategies to enhance the country’s food security, irrigation infrastructure, agricultural data systems and overall productivity. Zimbabwe is establishing a cultural lounge at the FAO Headquarters. The Lounge will be decorated with traditional Zimbabwean artefacts to showcase the nation’s rich cultural heritage. Vice President Chiwenga also held a bilateral meeting with Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Vatican Secretary for Relations with States, during which he reiterated Zimbabwe’s commitment to maintaining strong relations with the Vatican. On his part, Archbishop Gallagher commended the abolition of the death sentence by Zimbabwe, and pledged to support the request to the Vatican for the recognition of early Zimbabwean missionaries. The Vice President visited major religious and historical sites in Rome and Assisi, including St. Peter’s Basilica and the Colosseum, as part of efforts to promote cultural diplomacy and religious tourism between Zimbabwe and the Vatican.

I Thank You!