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Zvamaida Murwira-Senior Reporter

Cabinet yesterday hailed the successful holding of the Sadc-initiated Anti-Sanction Solidarity Day held on Monday across the country, with Zimbabwean embassies across the globe also carrying out activities, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said yesterday. 

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister, Ambassador Fredrick Shava highlighted that the Anti-Sanctions Solidarity Day was successfully held under the theme, “Friend to all, Enemy to none: Forging Ahead and Enhancing Innovation and Productivity in Adversity of Sanctions”.

Sadc designated October 25 of every year as the day on which the region should hold activities aimed at denouncing the sanctions imposed by the West on Zimbabwe at the turn of the millennium.

President Mnangagwa issued a special message to mark the day. 

Said Minister Mutsvangwa: “Activities were held in all provinces capped by the Anti-Sanctions Show, which featured music, dance and speeches organised by the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services. Zimbabwe embassies across the globe held anti-sanctions activities in Algeria, Tanzania, Malawi, Botswana, Nigeria, the United Kingdom, Kenya, Cuba and the United States of America.” 

Churches, diplomats, and ordinary people from all walks of life carried out activities to denounce the illegal sanctions, which were imposed outside the United Nations framework.

Minister Mutsvangwa said Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi presented Zimbabwe’s 3rd Cycle Universal Periodic Review Report to the United Nations Human Rights Committee, which was approved by Cabinet. 

The review involves the evaluation of the human rights situations of all United Nations member States once every four years. 

Zimbabwe has so far undergone two cycles of the Universal Periodic Review in 2012 and 2016. 

The report by Minister Ziyambi outlined the measures undertaken by Zimbabwe during the review period from 2016 to October 2021 to promote, respect and fulfill human rights obligations. 

It reflects on domestic laws that have been re-aligned to the Constitution and promulgated, creation of policy environment for the improvement of public health through promulgation of the National Health Strategy, robust HIV and Covid-19 response strategies and budgetary support to the health sector. 

“The budgetary allocation to the health sector has been increasing over the years, with the $54 billion allocated in the 2021 Budget, representing 13 percent of the national Budget. The mortality rate of those in the 15 to 49 year age group also continues to decline, having been recorded at 6,28 deaths per 1 000 females and 6,09 deaths per 1 000 males in 2019. 

 This is a notable drop when compared to the 2014 mortality rate of 9,84 deaths per 1 000 females and 9,79 males per 1 000 males. The advent of the Covid-19 outbreak enhanced investment in the health sector,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

Other sections of the review presented included administration of justice, birth registration, conditions of prisons and police holding cells, trafficking in persons, women and children’s rights, rights of persons with disabilities, media matters, financial, technical and other cooperation assistance and cooperation with civil society organisations and other stakeholders.

Minister Mutsvangwa added that Cabinet adopted reports on the eighth 100-Day cycle of the Second Republic tabled by five Cabinet ministers detailing with activities and projects of their ministries.

The five are Ministers of Industry and Commerce Dr Sekai Nzenza, of Foreign Affairs and Internatinal Trade Ambassador Shava, of Justice Minister Ziyambi, of Women Affairs Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Dr Sithembiso Nyoni and Minister of State for Presidential Affairs and Monitoring, Implementation of Government Programmes Dr Jorum Gumbo.