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Cabinet received an update on Zimbabwe’s Response to the Covid-19 Outbreak, which was presented by the Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs, Honourable OCZ Muchinguri-Kashiri, as the chairperson of the Ad-Hoc Inter-Ministerial Task Force on the Covid-19 Outbreak.

The Government wishes to report that as at 31 May, 2021, Zimbabwe’s cumulative Covid-19 cases stood at 38 961, with 36 594 recoveries and 1 594 deaths. The recovery rate stands at 94 percent, with 94 percent of Covid-19-positive cases being attributable to local transmission. The number of active cases stands at 771.

On the Covid-19 outbreak detected at Bondolfi Teachers College in Masvingo, Cabinet advises that the following measures, which have proved effective in managing the situation, have been put in place:

◆ The college is now under quarantine;

◆ All identified cases have been isolated; and

◆ Contact-tracing, screening and testing continues at the College and at adjacent primary and secondary schools.

Any outbreaks at other learning institutions across the country will be addressed using these measures and the standardguidelines for the coordinated prevention and management of Covid-19 at all learning institutions in Zimbabwe.

With regard to risk communication and information, Cabinet notes with concern the rise in the dissemination of Covid-19-related fake news, mainly through social media platforms. The public is urged to remain cognizant that the only source of information on the COVID-19 situation is the Ministry of Health and Child Care and not to act on the basis of information from unverified sources.

Members of the public are once again urged to remain vigilant and desist from the increasing complacency being witnessed in observing all Covid-19 prevention and control measures and regulations. Citizens are advised to avoid infection through continuous

◆ Washing of hands;

◆ Wearing of face masks;

◆ Social distancing; and

◆ Being vigilant about ventilation and avoiding overcrowding in closed spaces.

Progress report on the procurement and roll out of Covid-19 vaccines

The Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care, Honourable CGDN Chiwenga, apprised Cabinet on progress made in the procurement and roll-out of Covid-19 vaccines.

Cabinet advises that as of 31 May, 2021, a total of 675 678 people had received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine and 344 400 their second dose across the country. Priority is being given to second doses.

In a related matter, it has been observed that some provinces such as Matabeleland South are not adhering to Covid-19 regulations at funerals, resulting in unnecessary discord between environmental health workers and the local leadership regarding issues of opening of coffins and body viewing.

The procedures to be followed in the repatriation of bodies from outside the country and at funerals can be obtained from the Ministry of Health and Child Care.

Government takes this opportunity to inform the nation that the Ministry of Health and Child Care has developed the ZimCovidSafe interactive app was developed with the aim of reducing traffic of calls to health institutions, to educate the public about Covid-19 and to disseminate official news from the Ministry. The app has the following features of interest:

◆ Covid-19 screening tool;

◆ Vaccination and testing centres information;

◆ News updates and educational content;

◆ Live Covid-19 statistics updates grouped by province; and

◆ The SMS-based solution.

The ZimCovid Safe mobile app is now available on Google Play Store and Apple AppStore.

On another matter, Cabinet wishes to assure the citizenry that the fire outbreak at Mpilo Hospital which gutted the Doctors’ Residence is being investigated, while relief measures are instituted. This is the second time within three years that the hospital’s hostel has been gutted by fire. The affected staff have so far been provided with accommodation, clothing, toiletries and food since the disaster occurred.

Birth certificates and identity cards have been issued to all those in hotel accommodation and passports will be issued at the Registry Office. The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development has pledged $287 million for the construction of single quarters and separate canteens for nurses and doctors as well as married quarters.  A special task force which is using new building technologies is on the ground as we speak.

Report of the ad-hoc inter-ministerial committee on the elimination of congestion and installation of proper lighting in the country’s urban areas

The Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Honourable July Moyo, presented the report of the ad-hoc Inter-Ministerial Committee on the Elimination of Congestion and Installation of Proper Lighting in the country’s urban areas, which was adopted by Cabinet.

Government introduced the programme to ensure that the mismanagement and corruption of non-performing local authorities, especially in urban areas, which spawned glaring neglect of service delivery and dilapidation of infrastructure is brought to an end. Government will provide finances and will also monitor and supervise the collection and utilisation of revenues by local authorities.

The interventions and projects of the ad-hoc Inter-Ministerial Committee are categorised into three groups, namely:

Infrastructure;

Enhanced public transport Logistics Systems; and

Enforcement.

Regarding the upgrading of the High Glen/Gleneagles Roundabout, Kuwadzana Roundabout and Warren Park D roundabout, it is reported that the relevant contracts have been awarded and delivery of material should be complete by June 15 2021.

Concerning the repair and upgrading of traffic lights on major junctions, Cabinet notes that a total of nine traffic lights along Samora Machel Avenue will be synchronised, with five having already been done and now operational. These are at the intersections of Samora Machel Avenue with the following roads: Bishop Gaul; Rekayi Tangwena; Abdel Gamal Nasser and Chinhoyi Street. Procurement of materials for the remaining junctions is in progress. Two junctions, that is, Liberation Legacy Way/Crow Hill and Harare Drive/Kirkman Drive have completed and are set for commissioning.

Meanwhile, all carriageway markings for roads and parking bays, including reserved public transport lanes, in the Harare Central Business District are expected to be complete by 30 June 2021, with city council procuring paint for the markings and the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development providing the funding under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme.

Construction of road kerbs and jersey barriers has been completed at the corner of Abdel Gamal Nasser Road/Robert Mugabe Road intersection, while construction is underway at the Abdel Gamal Nasser Road/Jason Moyo intersection.

In terms of the modification of roundabouts, Government is pleased to report that scoping of works for the Mbudzi  interchange has been completed and the preparation of specifications is in progress.

On the use of designated bus stops, it is highlighted that the timetabling schedules are now 90 percent complete. The mobile application for prepayment of bus fares was developed by the Harare Institute of Technology and construction of prepaid ticketing offices is now complete.

The testing of the ticketing software was completed as well as certification by ZIMSWITCH and the pilot project started today, June 1, 2021. Four hundred tap cards and 110 bank-linked point-of-sale (POS) machines have been procured and delivered.

For the traffic control system, it is advised that the installation of optic fibre links is now complete on all controlled intersections in the Harare CBD.

A pilot project of smart traffic solutions was completed at the corner of Simon Muzenda Street and Jason Moyo Avenue.

Fibre optic network on all strategic points across Harare linking them to the control centre and TelOne have been completed. Cameras have also been installed at the following intersections:

Simon Muzenda Street and Jason Moyo Avenue;

Samora Machel Avenue and Leopold Takawira Street; and

Samora Machel Avenue and Julius Nyerere Way.

Meanwhile, the enforcement of traffic by-laws continues to be strengthened, with a highlight being the banning of the Park Street weekend market forthwith. Joint operations between the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and Harare Municipal Police traffic teams started on 11 May 2021 and training is ongoing to deploy more teams.

This framework which has been piloted in the City of Harare will be cascaded to all urban local authorities in the country.

Proposed partnership agreements/joint ventures recommended for approval by Zimbabwe Investment and Development AgencyI(ZIDA)

Cabinet considered and approved three proposed joint ventures which were presented by the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Honourable Professor Muthuli Ncube. The partnership agreements, which were assessed and recommended for approval by the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) are as follows:

Proposed feasibility study financing agreement in connection with the development of the Victoria Falls Special Economic  Zone;

Proposed joint venture between the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) and Zambezi Crescent (Pvt) Ltd; and

Proposal by ZMDC to engage Zhi Jui Mining Resource (Pvt) Ltd under a contract mining arrangement for the treatment of dumps at Mhangura.

The joint ventures fall under the purview of the Ministries of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry; and Mines and Mining Development.

Cabinet approved the proposed feasibility study financing agreement in respect of the development of bulk infrastructure in the Masuwe area of the Victoria Falls Special Economic Zone.

Cabinet was advised that Mosi Oa Tunya Development Company (MOTDC), a parastatal under the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, procured Old Mutual Life Assurance Company Zimbabwe (OMLAC), to finance and undertake the feasibility study for the development of bulk infrastructure at a cost of US$430 948,29.

In lieu of payment for the feasibility study cost, MOTDC will grant OMLAC a lease over 55 hectares of land for construction of a 4-star hotel with a 5 000-seater conference centre; a hospital facility; a golf course; and a shopping mall on land to be allocated by Government. OMLAC will then have to pay rentals after recovery of the cost of the feasibility study.

The proposed arrangement is part of the whole process of unlocking value in the Victoria Falls Special Economic Zone in that the feasibility study will inform the viability of proposed economic activities and infrastructure needs.

On the proposed joint venture between the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) and Zambezi Crescent (Pvt) Ltd, ZimParks and Zambezi Crescent are in partnership for the revamping and upgrading of all of ZimParks’ lodges at Zambezi Camp in Victoria Falls to an agreed market-related status at a total cost of US$3 009 000.

This amount will be contributed by the investor, while ZimParks will provide exclusive rights to the use of the lodges at the camp and their surroundings. The project will be implemented as a joint venture over 25 years with the parties sharing profits on a 50/50 basis.

The joint venture is set to significantly improve the performance of the Zambezi Camp Lodges, which are strategically located along the banks of the Zambezi, but have been performing poorly over the years.

Concerning the Proposal by ZMDC to Engage Zhi Jui Mining Resource (Pvt) Ltd under a Contract Mining Arrangement for the Treatment of Dumps at Mhangura, it is advised that ZMDC procured Zhi Jiu Mining Resources for purposes of entering into a 5-year contract mining agreement for the treatment of a total of 26 million metric tonnes of mining dump at Mhangura Mine. Zhi Jui will inject the US$10 million required as capital for the processing of the dump, while ZMDC provides mineral resources, the mining title and existing mine infrastructure in a product-sharing ratio of 65:35 between Zhi Jui and ZMDC, respectively. The project presents a win-win scenario, in which ZMDC will get substantial returns on their idle dump site.

Zimbabwe sustainable development goals progressive review report

Cabinet considered and approved the Zimbabwe Sustainable Goals Progress Review Report which was presented by the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Honourable Professor P. Mavima.  The review was conducted for all Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the period September 2015 to December 2020, with a view to reflect on the country’s current position regarding the attainment of SDGs.

The Review Report which covers, inter-alia, the work being done in implementing the Devolution Agenda, which strengthens inclusivity in national development thereby promoting the principle of leaving no-one behind. The report also shows that there has been significant progress made through harnessing domestic resources in financing National Development Plans, with various programmes and projects being undertaken using locally available resources.

Election of Zimbabwe to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)

Cabinet is delighted to announce that Zimbabwe was elected to the International Renewable Energy Agency as Deputy Chair.  The country will be represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Power Development, Dr Eng Gloria Magombo.  The Agency is chaired by Japan.