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Cabinet received an update on the national cholera outbreak response as presented by the Acting Minister of Health and Child Care, Honourable Prof Paul Mavima.

Cabinet informs the nation that during the period 21 February, 2024 to 27 February, 2024 there were 961 new suspected cholera cases reported, compared to the 1 025 reported the previous week, reflecting a 7 percent decrease. The cholera cases are emanating mainly from unsupervised religious gatherings and funerals, and mobile artisanal miners residing in compounds with poor water and sanitation facilities, poor hand hygiene practices and recurrent bursts of sewer reticulation systems in urban areas.

However, the marked decrease in the number of cases is attributed to high community awareness, improved case management with the establishment of oral rehydration points and cholera treatment camps, and the impact of the vaccination programme.

In response to the cholera challenges, more community health workers have been deployed to conduct door to door health education, administer oral rehydration solutions in communities and promote good hygiene practices. In order to sustain quick wins, the Ministry of Health and Child Care will continue to monitor and supervise religious gatherings and funerals as well as to intensify risk communication and community engagement. Cabinet has authorised the decommissioning of Cholera Treatment Centres in areas where cases have reduced to zero and the redistribution of equipment and supplies to emerging hotspots, and the extension of vaccination in Harare to include other hotspots within the suburbs that were not initially targeted.

Implementation Of The Carbon Credit Framework in Zimbabwe

Cabinet received an update on the implementation of the Carbon Credit Framework in Zimbabwe from Honourable Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu, the Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife.

As the nation may recall, Government approved the Carbon Credit Framework (CCF) for Zimbabwe on 16 May, 2023. Carbon credit trading in Zimbabwe is mainly through reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation initiatives. In addition, there are other non-forest-based carbon credit projects such as renewable energy and clean cooking technologies, which have raised resources through the sale of carbon credits. Previously, the projects were implemented without Government involvement.

Through the adoption of the Carbon Credit Framework, the country aims to promote and regulate carbon trading; to facilitate trade in carbon credits and contribute to climate change mitigation, adaptation and community resilience and to enhance transparency and accountability in carbon credit trading.

The adoption of the Carbon Credit Framework nullified all pre-existing carbon credit projects that had been developed without Government guidance and with taxes from the carbon credit trading business.

The nation is informed that Government has promulgated the Carbon Credit Trading (General) Regulations, which provide the process for the regularisation of pre-existing projects and the approval and setting up of new projects. Through the regulations, communities are empowered to participate in the projects, while Government monitors and verifies carbon credit trading projects.

The Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife has since established an interim designated national authority on carbon credits in line with Article 6 of the Kyoto Protocol. Cabinet advises that all entities wishing to trade in carbon credits in the country should register with the Designated National Authority.

The chief responsibility of the designated national authority is to regulate carbon trading in line with the country’s laws, policies and strategies. The designated national authority has, since August 2023, received a total of 13 applications for new carbon credit projects in forestry, regenerative agriculture, waste and energy efficiency sectors. With six of the projects having passed the assessment by the designated national authority, the project proponents are now in the process of developing detailed project design documents.

A total of 8 pre-existing projects have also been subjected to similar assessment by the designated national authority which recommended that all the project design documents be re-aligned in order to conform with SI 150 of 2023 specifications.

Food Deficit Mitigation Strategy

The Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Honourable July Moyo updated Cabinet on steps being taken to ensure that all food insecure people are assisted timeously.

The nation is informed that the 2023 Zimbabwe Livelihoods Assessment Committee (ZimLAC) projects that 26 per cent or 2 715 717 of the country’s population is food insecure during the period January to March 2024. Matabeleland North Province has the highest food insecure population, with 42 percent requiring assistance, while only 12 percentof the population will require food assistance in Mashonaland West Province.

The food insecure population requires 100 482 tonnes of grain during the three-month period. The registration of food insecure people and the distribution of grain has commenced in all areas across the country’s eight rural provinces, and is being led by the traditional leaders who are ably supported by Councillors and Government officials.

To date, a total of 2 722.46 tonnes of grain comprising 405 tonnes of traditional grains and 2 317.46 tonnes of maize have been distributed to 247 576 food insecure people, under the Food Deficit Mitigation Programme.

Communities and households in distress are urged to contact their respective Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, who will in turn communicate with the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare on the food requirements. The registration of beneficiaries and distribution of grain will continue unabated during the El Nino-induced drought period.

Cement Market Supply And Demand Situation

Cabinet considered and adopted the Report on the outcome of measures instituted to address the country’s cement market supply and demand situation, as presented by the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Honourable Sithembiso Nyoni.

Cabinet advises that following the Cabinet decision to allow the temporary importation of cement in October 2023, the Ministry issued 971 licences totalling 337 776  tonnes, out of which 218 000 tonnes passed through the borders. The four major cement manufacturers in the country have an installed capacity of 2.6 million tonnes per annum, against a national demand of 1.6 million tonnes.

Cabinet notes that the local industry is now producing above optimal levels. The four companies are producing a combined 160 500 tonnes per month against the installed capacity of 241 000 tonnes per month. Depressed local demand has resulted in the companies stockpiling cement and reducing production.

Cabinet advises the nation that there is now adequate cement on the market. Accordingly, the issuance of cement import licences is being discontinued in order to boost demand for local cement.

Report On the 41ST Virtual Session Of The African Union Development Agency—New Partnership For Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) Heads Of State And Government Orientation Committee: 13 February 2024

The Minister of Defence Honourable Oppah Chamu Zvipange MuchinguriKashiri, briefed Cabinet on the 41st Virtual Session of the African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee, which she attended on 13 February, 2024.

Cabinet advises the nation that the meeting was presided over by the President of Egypt, His Excellency Abdel Fattah El Sisi, who is the chairperson of the African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development Heads of State and Government. During the meeting, the AUDA-NEPAD Chief Executive Officer presented the NEPAD 2023 results-based performance report in which she highlighted strides that had been made in reducing the incidence of HIV and AIDS in Africa.

The Minister also updated the meeting that Zimbabwe is domesticating the United Nations Agenda 2030 and Africa Agenda 2063 under Vision 2030 through the implementation of the National Development Strategy 1: 2021 to 2025 and its successor, the National Development Strategy 2: 2026 to 2030.

Cabinet informs the nation that some of the salient issues raised during the session were as follows:

1. the need for African countries to share expertise in the development of infrastructure;
2. ways to intensify cooperation and coordination with international partners and international financing institutions in-order to bridge the financing gap in sustainable development projects and reduce the debt gap;

iii. that the private sector, institutional investors and innovative sources of finance should invest in the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa, which aims to spearhead physical infrastructure development in transport, energy and ICTs;

1. strategies to accelerate the realisation of the target aspirations of the African Continental Free Trade Area and support African countries to maximise the benefits provided for by the Agreement;
2. strengthening risk mitigation systems in order to accelerate private investment and improve the business climate;
3. the need for African Governments, Development Finance Institutions and international institutions to increase their support and funding for infrastructure projects; and

vii. ways to intensify efforts to mobilise financial resources for priority infrastructure development projects, particularly the 69 Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa projects earmarked for the period 2021 to 2030.

The 2023/2024 Agricultural Season First Round Crops, Livestock And Fisheries Assessment Report And Implications For Food Security

Cabinet received the 2023/2024 Agricultural Season First Round Crops, Livestock and Fisheries Assessment Report and Implications for Food Security as presented by the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Hon Dr AJ Masuka on behalf of the Chairperson Cabinet Committee on Food Security and Nutrition Honourable Vice President CGDN.Chiwenga.

The nation is informed that the first round crop, livestock and fisheries assessment aims to ascertain the area planted to crops and their state as well as determine the status of livestock and fisheries, in order to estimate seasonal production for purposes of guiding, planning and policy interventions.

The country is facing an El Nino-induced drought characterised by the delayed start of rains and prolonged dry spells, which resulted in most crops planted being a write-off despite climate-proofing measures as per agro-ecological regions.

The nation is informed that Government is seized with the food security situation in the country and is intensifying efforts to ensure that no one and no place is left behind in terms of food sufficiency. The nation is informed that the country’s 10 600 dams can irrigate 2 million hectares, yet only 217 000 hectares has functional irrigation and some 72 000 hectares were planted under irrigated maize in the 2023/2024 season. The Government has been improving irrigation by 10 000 to 15 000 annually from 2020 to 2023, up from 2000 to 3000 hectares prior to this review. With over 57 000 boreholes having been drilled by the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency and the Zimbabwe National Water Authority, the ongoing assessment to ascertain the state of the boreholes across the country will be expedited. Furthermore, Cabinet highlights that ensuring sustainable food security requires accelerated Irrigation Rehabilitation and Development and the establishment of Village Business Units to mitigate the effects of climate change. To this end, the existing and innovative irrigation development programmes should be promoted in order to increase the area under irrigation.

Equally important, is the need to harness Diaspora participation in investing in agriculture financing with particular focus on irrigation investment, in order to foster modernisation and industrialisation of rural areas.

The nation is informed that an investment conference on irrigation financing will be hosted this year to attract both internal and external investors to provide the necessary impetus to accelerate irrigation rehabilitation and development and village business units programmes to ensure food security. The major outcome expected from the conference is that investments will enable the country’s 10 600 dams to be utilised for irrigation. Existing boreholes under various schemes are being assessed, and those suitable will be equipped for irrigation and livestock programmes. More drilling rigs with capacity to drill up to 450 metres will be procured. An initial target of 10 000 Village Business Units will be established by November 2024. Finances will be mobilised to accelerate the establishment of the targeted 350 000 hectares for summer irrigation.

A robust 2024 winter cropping plan covering wheat, barley, sorghum and maize is being prepared for implementation and will be announced soon over the November period to 2025. Government shall be issuing periodic updates in order to inform the nation on the food security situation and on measures to mitigate the expected food security deficit.

Importantly, the next report will focus on the expected national production for the coming season and ascertain the supply gap based on stock held by  the Grain Marketing Board, private sector, farmers and others. This will inform the overall strategy.

Report on The Attendance  Of The Inaugural International Multi-Sport Tournament, ‘Games of the Future’: Republic  Of Tatarstan: Russian Federation: 20 T0 23 February 2024

Vice President Hon. Gen(Retd) Dr C.G.D.N Chiwenga briefed Cabinet on his attendance of the Inaugural International Multi-Sport Tournament, “Games of the Future” official opening ceremony, which was held in Kazan in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russian Federation on 21 February, 2024.

The nation is informed that the official opening ceremony of the Inaugural International Multi-Sport Tournament, “Games of the Future” was a success.

The physical sports are indeed games for the future that appeal to both old and youthful generations. The Russian Federation is a leader in cutting-edge technology and there is scope for enhancing bilateral economic relations between the two Republics.

Cabinet advises that on the sidelines of the event the Vice President visited an Agro-industrial Park and Special Economic Zone (Innopolis Smart City) in the city of Kazan.

He paid a courtesy call on the Rais (President) of the Republic of Tatarstan, Hon. Rustam Nurgaliyevich Minnikhanov, and held a meeting with the First Deputy Prime Minister of Agriculture and Food,   Honourable Nailevich Lenar Garipov.

The Vice President also had occasion to meet Zimbabwean students on scholarship in the City of Kazan. The nation is informed that Cabinet approved the following: (a) that the Embassy explores effective ways to enhance trade and investment with the Russian Federation; (b) that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in conjunction with the Office of the President and Cabinet expedite the invitation of Ministers from the Russian Federation in the various sectors of agriculture, industry, science and technology to meet their Zimbabwean counterparts; (c) that Zimbabwe participates in the Kazan and Moscow games scheduled for June and September 2024.; (d) that an Inter-Ministerial Committee comprising the Ministries of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development; Transport and Infrastructural Development; Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion; Industry and Commerce; Local Government and Public Works; Health and Child Care; and Energy and Power Development, be constituted to oversee the feasibility of implementing an agro-industrial park in Zimbabwe; and (e) that the Department of Presidential scholarships should increase enrolment of female students for the purpose of promoting gender parity.