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Cabinet received an update on the country’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak, which was presented by the Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs as chairperson of the Ad-hoc Inter-Ministerial Task Force on Covid-19.

Cabinet was informed that as of 26 July 2021, Zimbabwe’s cumulative Covid-19 cases stood at 99 944, with 67 827 recoveries and 3 173 deaths.  The recovery rate stood at 67 percent, with 98 percent of cases being attributed to local transmission.  Active cases were 28 944.

Cabinet was informed that the number of infections decreased slightly, with a total of 14 275 cases being recorded during the week under review, compared to the 21 346 cases recorded the previous week.  This reflected a 49,5 percent decrease, as the country’s efforts to contain the pandemic showed a high level of effectiveness.  

Nevertheless, Cabinet noted the need to strengthen efforts to contain the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. As such, therefore, the Level 4 lockdown measures remain in force.  Areas which recorded the most significant numbers of new cases were Harare Metropolitan Province (2 920), Mashonaland East Province (1 968), Mashonaland West Province (1 776), Manicaland Province (1 537) and Mashonaland Central Province (1 106).  

Cabinet wishes to assure the nation that efforts are underway to replenish all supplies of essential Covid-19 consumables.  Government is ramping up the supply of oxygen and other critical provisions at designated health institutions throughout the country.  The Ministry of Health and Child Care has established a prepayment facility with a local gas supplier to ensure constant availability of oxygen.  Treasury has released $100 million for the purchase of oxygen.

Cabinet further wishes to inform the nation that a total of 39 new boreholes were drilled, while 12 others were rehabilitated during the week under review.  Major cities are receiving priority in the provision of water.  

A total of 114 handwashing facilities were established at public places, and 2 924 hygiene promotion sessions were conducted during the week under review.

Cabinet acceded to a request by the tourism industry to open the Victoria Falls and Kazungula border posts to tourists who are fully vaccinated.  

This is in view of the realisation that over 60 percent of the population in Victoria Falls has been vaccinated. The lockdown measures are being enforced throughout the country in order to curtail a surge under the third wave of Covid-19.  

Cabinet further resolved that the disbursement of funds should be streamlined in order to facilitate the completion of Covid-19 treatment and isolation centres around the country.  As the nation prepares for the reopening of schools, parents and guardians are expected to complement Government efforts to provide Personal Protective Equipment, sanitisers and other essential requirements for learners.

Cabinet also directed that the Police should adhere to the curfew times when mounting roadblocks.

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

Cabinet received an update on the procurement and roll-out of Covid-19 vaccines, which was presented by the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development as Acting Minister of Health and Child Care.

Cabinet wishes to inform the nation that as of 26th July 2021, a total of 1 491 493 people had received the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, while 687 216 people had received their second dose.  Vaccination in border town hotspots and people’s markets is ongoing, with the highest coverages of the first dose being recorded in Victoria Falls City, Kariba and Chiredzi.

Cabinet wishes to inform the nation that one million doses of the Sinovac vaccine were received on 25th July 2021.  

Another consignment of 1,5 million doses of the Sinopharm vaccine are expected in the country on 30 July, 2021.

Cabinet noted with concern the failure by Chitungwiza Municipality and Harare City Council to pay nurses and other health personnel, resulting in a reduction in service delivery.  

The two Municipalities have also been unable to account for financial resources availed by Treasury towards the Covid-19 response.  Cabinet directed that nursing staff in the two municipalities be placed under the Public Service Commission and be paid through the Salary Service Bureau.  

Risk allowances for the affected workers will also be paid.  Cabinet also tasked the Minister of Finance and Economic Development to ensure that the municipalities account fully for the resources that they were allocated as part of the country’s Covid-19 response.

Cabinet wishes to urge citizens to be vaccinated against Covid-19,  in view of compelling evidence that vaccination reduces the need for hospitalisation and also reduces infection rates and deaths.

Proposed NDS1 communication strategy

Cabinet considered and adopted the National Development Strategy 1 communication strategy, which was presented by the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services.

Cabinet was informed that a sustained national information campaign targeting the entire nation on the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), the national blueprint which Government is implementing to move the country towards the attainment of Vision 2030 is an imperative which should be adequately resourced. 

The aim is to raise citizens’ awareness about NDS1, and to raise public participation in the implementation of Government policies, programmes and projects designed to develop the country towards a prosperous and empowered upper-middle income society by year 2030. This will be undertaken through NDS1 and its successor, NDS2. Appropriate messages will be disseminated to targeted audiences using available communication platforms embracing billboards apparel and collateral messaging as well as digital media.

Cabinet noted that individuals, collectives and corporate organisations need to seize opportunities presented by the National Programme to improve livelihoods, welfare and corporate net-worth. 

The overall aim is to achieve a timeously and accurately informed nation and international community on developments in the country to facilitate two-way communication between Government and citizens; to re-shape the national viewpoint through content creation, development and dissemination; to adorn public building and spaces in Zimbabwe and at its Embassies with the country’s arts, culture and heritage products; and to improve public relations at ports of entry  with appropriate welcoming messages and imagery.

Cabinet was informed that the NDS1 messaging campaign will segment audiences with a view to targeting them with tailor-made messages that will appeal to their social standing. The Diaspora will be a special target group.

Cabinet noted that the NDS1 messaging will be communicated through highway Billboards at entry points targeting investors, tourists, visitors and local travellers; vehicle branding; collateral/giveaways, including T-Shirts, doeks, wrappers, caps, shirts and blouses; and school and college stationery messaging.

Cabinet further noted that both radio and television will be used extensively to carry messages on NDS1 and Vision 2030. Other strategies will include indoor and outdoor banners, the print media, and social media. NDS1 thematic working groups and communication experts will be invaluable for messaging the campaign. 

The campaign will also draw expertise from public and private sector media practitioners. Cabinet directed that the requisite financial resources should be availed to facilitate the dissemination of information on NDS 1. 

Internal publics will segment the campaign according to social groups, rural and urban populations, youths and women’s groups, students, churches, the general public, workers, businesses, small and medium enterprises, corporates and the intelligentsia, cooperating partners and the international community.

 Report on the interactive meeting with the San community in Tsholotsho

Cabinet received a report on a Government delegation’s visit to the San Community in Tsholotsho District in Matabeleland North Province, which was presented by the Minister of Local Government and Public Works.

The delegation noted that the San people lack birth certificates and identity documents, encounter high teenage pregnancies as well as very low school completion rates at primary and secondary school, and suffer food insecurity mainly due to human wildlife conflict and failure to practice modern agriculture.

Cabinet wishes to inform the nation that the Second Republic has made undertakings to ensure that the right to equality and non-discrimination is realised.  

Section 56 of the Constitution clearly states that “every person has the right not to be treated in an unfairly discriminatory manner on such grounds as their ethnic or social origin.  Cabinet noted that the Language Centre at Midlands State University has already translated the Constitution, the National Development Strategy 1:  2021-2025 as well as Covid-19 information manuals into the San/Tjwao language, with a view to expediting measures to safeguard the San community and advance its development.  Cabinet directed as follows:  that every Ministry should identify and take up a developmental role in areas inhabited by the San/Tjwao communities; that two or three primary and an equal number of secondary schools be set up as boarding institutions in areas easily accessible to San/Tjwao communities, in order to enhance school completion rates; that the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage should instruct the Registrar General’s Office to issue birth and identity documents to the inhabitants of San/Tjwao and similar communities in Zimbabwe who have hitherto been unable to obtain such documentation.  

In that regard, all constraints relating to testimonies by parents, relatives and guardians should be wavered;  the Ministry of Health and Child Care should establish clinics that will benefit the San/Tjwao and other similarly disadvantaged communities; the Security Ministries waiver the entry requirements to enable San/Tjwao citizens to enlist into the respective uniformed services; the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works expeditiously appoints headmen and chiefs to enhance the participation of the San/Tjwao in governance.  The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development should ensure the timeous release of funds requested by Ministries for the implementation of development programmes and projects in San/Tjwao communities.  

In addition, Cabinet directed that proceeds from the CAMPFIRE Programme be ploughed back to benefit communities living in areas where there is abundant wildlife.  The Food Deficit Mitigation Programme should be retargeted for the benefit of the marginalised San/Tjwao communities.  

The operations of the John Landa Nkomo Trust in areas inhabited by the San/Tjwao should be revived and expanded.

Full article on: www.herald.co.zw