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ZIMBABWE’S RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK
The Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs, as Deputy Chair of the Ad-Hoc Inter-Ministerial Task Force on Covid-19, presented the weekly report on the national response to the  Covid-19 outbreak, which was adopted by Cabinet.

Out of the 122 770 tests conducted throughout the country, 2 704 were confirmed Covid-19 positive, compared to the 1 713 cases reported on 20 July, 2020. This translates to a 68 percent increase in the number of confirmed cases. Cabinet announces, with regret, that the total number of Covid-19 fatalities has increased to 36 from the 26 reported last week. Of particular concern is that cumulative number of confirmed local Covid-19 cases has increased by 112 percent from 791 to 1 675 during the past week. Most of the local cases are in Bulawayo (667), Harare (601) and Gweru (168). Cabinet, therefore, declared Gweru a hotspot of Covid-19, in addition to Harare and Bulawayo. Government is expediting efforts to put in place rapid result test teams to facilitate localised lockdowns in hotspot suburbs of the three cities.

The number of those who have recovered has increased from the previously reported 472 to 542. This leaves the number of active cases at 2 126.

In order to curb the further spread of the disease among Government officials, the holding of meetings by virtual means will be enhanced. At universities and colleges, face-to-face classes have been suspended and lessons will be carried out online. Those who had started writing examinations will be allowed to complete them, while those who had not started their examinations will have them deferred.

In the business sector, it is highlighted that employers are required to issue new letters to their employees. The letters should contain the list of all the employees at the company, which list must be authenticated and stamped by the officer in charge of the nearest police station. Individual employees shall be required to carry such letters at all times, together with their national identity cards.

The requirements pertaining to movement control have already been published in the public media. Members of the public are urged to comply with the regulations published under Statutory Instrument 174 of 2020 which will be strictly enforced.

Government reiterates that there should be strict adherence to cross-border burial guidelines throughout the country in order to curb the spread of the virus. Furthermore, the limit of 50 people at gatherings should be strictly followed, especially at funeral wakes and church services. Municipal police, the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the local community leadership will work together to ensure that communities bury their loved ones within the strict confines of the law.

Cabinet notes, with concern, that the on-going strike in the health sector is negatively affecting the national Covid-19 response. More nurses will be urgently recruited from the available pool of qualified nurses, while processes to resolve those on industrial action continue. In addition, to strengthen the Covid-19 response, Government will recruit additional staff to run PCR tests, including unemployed graduates. Modalities are also being put in place to enable industrial and innovation hubs to produce Viral Transport Media (VTM), a critical ingredient in PCR tests currently in short supply.

In order to control the spike in the number of Covid-19 confirmed cases and deaths, Cabinet further agreed on the immediate implementation of the following practical measures:

That Covid-19 hotspots shall be quickly analysed with a view to implementing stricter lockdown measures so as to ensure behavioural change towards the disease in the areas;

That holding of Virtual Meetings shall be enhanced and that all Ministry staff reporting for duty shall be tested before assuming duty, while the outgoing group of workers is tested before leaving and upon return;

That the rapid response teams will be provided with the vehicles and allowances necessary to enable them to carry out their duties efficiently. Social workers and other categories of staff providing documented Covid-19 frontline services at quarantine centres, public institutions and other areas will receive the same allowances as those given to health workers;

That the initial official communication of Covid-19 results shall be made by the Secretary for Health and Child Care and appropriate action will be taken against those who violate this standing directive; and

To expedite the secondment and recruitment of additional staff such as nurses, laboratory scientists so as to strengthen health delivery system and national response to the Covid-19 outbreak.

Cabinet also takes this opportunity to inform the public that the country’s health centres have reasonable stocks of PPEs, with stocks of at least three weeks per centre. A case in point is the United Bulawayo Hospitals which has three months supply of PPEs in place. Cabinet also continues to urge the public to remain vigilant as the Covid-19 is real and affecting many of our loved ones

PRINCIPLES OF THE LEGAL PRACTITIONERS AMENDMENT BILL

Cabinet adopted the principles for the proposed Legal Practitioners Amendment Bill, which were presented by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. The amendment addresses deficiencies identified in the current Act pertaining to the composition of the Council of Legal Education.

The existing Legal Practitioners Act provides for the appointment of two members of the Legal Education Council from nominations made by only the University of Zimbabwe’s Faculty of Law board. This is not representative of all the key institutions offering legal education in Zimbabwe, since the country has other universities offering law degrees. The Bill will, therefore, amend section 36 of the Act to provide for two members of the Legal Education Council to be appointed from a list of nominees submitted Zimbabwean Universities with Law Faculties. This will enable the council to make fully informed decisions on the training requirements of lawyers in Zimbabwe, among other matters.

PREPARATIONS FOR THE 2020 HEROES DAY COMMEMORATIONS AND DEFENCE FORCES DAY CELEBRATIONS

The Minister of Local Government and Public Works, as the acting chairman of the Cabinet Committee on State Occasions, briefed Cabinet on the 2020 Heroes Day Commemorations and the Defence Forces Day Celebrations. There will be no gatherings this year to mark both events. His Excellency, the President will address the nation using virtual platforms.

The 2020 Heroes Day Commemorations will be held under the theme “REMEMBERING OUR HEROES” on 10th August, the Defence Forces Day Celebrations will be held on 11th August, 2020 under the theme “ZDF: CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF EXCELLENT SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE”. The virtual celebrations will take place over a period of two weeks and covered by the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Services (ZBC)-TV, which will extensively feature the Zimbabwe Defence Force’s exploits, community assistance projects and the Defence Forces Medical Outreach Programme.

On a related matter, Cabinet approved the national fabric for virtual launching on 10 August, 2020. The Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development presented the fabric, which was arrived at through an extensive consultative process.

PRINCIPLES FOR THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE TRADITIONAL LEADERS ACT [CHAPTER 29:17]

Cabinet received a presentation from the Minister of Local Government and Public Works on the proposed amendments to the Traditional Leaders Act [Chapter 29:17]. The Traditional Leaders Act is being amended to align it to the Constitution. The amendments will seek, among other provisions, to provide for the following matters: (a) recognition of the role of Traditional Leaders under Customary Law; (b) equal and fair treatment of all people by Traditional Leaders; (c) functions and remuneration of Traditional Leaders; (d) process of appointing, disciplining and removing Traditional Leaders; (e) establishment of the National Council and Provincial Assemblies of Chiefs and their functions; (f) creation, resuscitation, and abolishment of Traditional Leaderships, and (g) establishment of Integrity and Ethics Committee and its functions.

Cabinet approved the principles to amend the Traditional Leaders Act.

PRINCIPLES FOR THE AMENDMENT OF THE DEPOSIT PROTECTION ACT [CHAPTER 24:29]

Cabinet considered and approved the Principles to amend the Deposit Protection Corporation Act [Chapter 24:29] as presented by the Minister of Finance and Economic Development.

The amendments to the Act will provide a governing legal framework for banking institutions in the event of their closure.

The Deposit Protection Corporation Act will be amended to establish a separate insolvency regime for banking institutions, align the Act to other local laws as well as comply with International Association of Deposit Insurers (IADI) core principles for effective Deposit Insurance Systems.

The Deposit Protection Corporation will be the sole deposit insurer and liquidator of banking institutions in Zimbabwe.