Cottco pays farmers $ 2,2bn
CABINET received an update on the country’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak, which was presented by the Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Honourable JG Moyo, as acting chairperson of the Ad-hoc Inter-Ministerial Task Force on Covid-19.
As at 4 October 2021, Zimbabwe’s cumulative Covid-19 cases stood at 131 205, with 123 947 recoveries and 4 627 deaths. The recovery rate stood at 94 percent, with 99 percent of cases being attributable to local transmission. Active cases stand at 2 631.
The number of new infections decreased during the week under review, despite the slight increase in new cases in learning institutions. The daily average of new cases dropped to 238 per day from 246, the previous week. The following areas recorded the most significant number of new cases: Matabeleland South (310), Mashonaland East Province (263), Manicaland (251), Matabeleland North (233) and Masvingo (202).
Regarding case management, infection, prevention and control, the number of people in need of hospitalization for Covid-19 continues to fall, with the country’s bed occupancy rate decreasing from 4,62 percent the previous week to 4,3 percent during the week under review. Ninety-four new admissions were recorded, with six patients placed under intensive care, as of October 1 2021. There has been a decrease in cases of Covid-19 in schools across the country during the reporting period ending 3 October 2021. There were 815 cumulative cases compared to 1 267 cases reported last week.
The nation is advised that in view of a potential fourth wave and the general complacency being experienced in most communities following the relaxation from Level 4 to Level 2 lockdown, implementation and enforcement of all public health and social measures will continue to be strengthened with a focus on vaccine rollout and awareness campaigns at public places and gatherings.
Cabinet notes, with concern, that the continued closure of licensed bars and night clubs has caused not only a loss of income and unemployment, but also resulted in the mushrooming of illegal outlets. Cabinet therefore directed that all licensed bars be opened to fully vaccinated clients. Bar owners are also required to ensure that the World Health Organisation and national protocols and guidelines are enforced, failure of which their licences will be withdrawn. The bars are also required to adhere to curfew hours.
Cabinet further notes with concern, the acute water supply situation in urban areas and tasked the Enhanced Committee on Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Management, chaired by the Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care to address the issue.
On a related matter, Government takes this opportunity to advise the nation that His Excellency the President has, with immediate effect, consolidated the Ad-Hoc Inter-Ministerial Task Force on the Covid-19 outbreak and the Covid19 vaccination programme into one task force.
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 the nation that as of 4 October, 2021, a total of 3 117 895 people had received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine and 2 322 862 their second across the country.
This translates to a national coverage of 36,6 percent for the first dose and 27.2 percent for the second. Cabinet wishes to further inform citizens that 943 200 doses of Sinopharm vaccine were received under the COVAX facility. This brings the total number of vaccine doses received since roll-out of the vaccination programme to 13 243 200.
Update on the winter wheat production programme and the Maize and Cotton marketing season
Cabinet considered and adopted the update report on the 2021 Winter Wheat Production and Summer Crops Marketing, which was presented by the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Honourable Dr AJ Masuka.
The public is informed that wheat harvesting has commenced with 65 percent of the harvest expected by the end of October 2021. To control the reported cases of damage to wheat by Quelea birds, the necessary chemical has now been received from Kenya and China.
Meanwhile, the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) has designated 18 intake depots for collecting wheat, and is purchasing quality control equipment as well as accelerating grain movement from the northern depots to the southern depots.
Allocation of combine harvesters and transporters is being finalised by the AFC and GMB. Regarding the delivery of the other strategic grains, Cabinet advises that the top 10 maize depots have received 57 percent of the expected maize, the top 10 traditional grains depots have received 78 percent of the intake, while the top 10 soyabean depots have received 77 percent of the deliveries to date.
Maize intake has increased by 547 percent, traditional grains by 726 percent and soyabean intake by 914 percent this season compared to the same time last year. Maize
A total of $1,5 billion was received from Treasury last week and cumulative receipts now amount to $33 038 772 364,37. Grain delivered to date is valued at $34 999 313 710.01 giving an outstanding balance of $1 960, 541 345,64.
Tobacco
In terms of preparations for the forthcoming summer season, some 83 938 farmers have registered for 2021/22 tobacco season compared to 79 134 farmers that had registered at the same time last year, translating to a 6 percent increase.
Planting of the irrigated crop is in progress and 5 803 hectares have been established to date as compared to 4 029 hectares planted at the same period last year, which is 44 percent higher. This is due to the better rains last season and improved water supply situation. As part of the localisation of the financing of tobacco, the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) has floated tenders for the supply of fertilisers and chemicals.
Cotton
Concerning cotton deliveries, the value of the seed cotton delivered to date stands at $6,353 billion. Cottco has paid a total of $2,226 billion and US$2 809 539 to farmers.
Regarding the 2020 outstanding farmer payments, $569 million has been released by Treasury and paid to farmers and a balance of $290 million is still outstanding.
Cabinet has also noted with concern, the proliferation of cattle rustling and wishes to warn the perpetrators of this crime that the law will take its course. Appropriate legislation will be put in place to stem this vice, deterrent action will be taken against errant players across the entire cattle value chain, including the revocation of operating licences for errant meat retailers and forfeiture of vehicles and other property for the transportation of stolen livestock.
Report on the regularisation of dysfunctional, illegal and irregular settlements and provision of workspaces for micro small and medium enterprises in urban and peri-urban areas; and update on the emergency road rehabilitation programme 2
The Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care, Honourable Retired General Dr CGDN Chiwenga, as chairman of the Enhanced Cabinet Committee on Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Management (ECEPDM), presented the report on the regularisation of dysfunctional, illegal and irregular settlements and provision of workspaces for MSMEs in urban and peri-urban areas; as well as an update on the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme 2. Cabinet adopted the report.
Cabinet wishes to remind the public that since February, 2021, Government has been undertaking measures to address irregular and dysfunctional settlements, the poor state of the country’s road infrastructure, and to streamline the operations of housing cooperatives. Under Phase I of its programme, the Enhanced Cabinet Committee (ECPDM) achieved the following, among others:
◆ The committee identified and quantified a total of 31 257 households that are residing in dysfunctional and irregular settlements across the country.
◆ It produced a National Wetlands Map and Policy for Zimbabwe.
◆ The committee established the level of compliance of all registered housing co-operatives and ascertained the legal status of some groups of people who refer to themselves as co-operatives when they are not so registered.
◆ Remarkable progress has also been made in upgrading and refurbishing the country’s road network under the Emergency Roads Rehabilitation Programme 2 (ERRP 2).
The nation is advised that, following the successful completion of Phase 1, the Enhanced Cabinet Committee will now commence the Phase 2 of its interventions. Phase 2 will focus on accelerated implementation of measures to address the irregularities and dysfunctionalities that were identified during the first phase, so as to achieve Government’s objective of delivering 1.5 million low to medium-income housing units over the period 2018 to 2030, as well as completing road works targeted under the Emergency Roads Rehabilitation Programme 2 (ERRP2) and the subsequent phase.
Emphasis will be placed on achieving set targets before the onset of the impending rains. Phase 2 will also deepen the strands of work carried out under Phase 1, with emphasis on execution and attaining rapid results. Households irregularly settled on wetlands and areas reserved for servitudes and social amenities, for whom relocation is inevitable, will be prioritised.
It will be ensured that servitudes and social amenities such as roads, sewer, water, electricity, clinics, schools, shops, sporting facilities and SMEs market stalls are put up in their proper areas, while wetlands are properly conserved.
More specifically, Phase 2 shall be characterised by works aimed at achieving the following goals:
◆ Addressing the accommodation needs of families or households settled on flood-prone areas;
◆ Addressing legacy issues from the First Republic, that is, attending to the infrastructure deficits in Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle settlements;
◆ Regularisation of settlements on farms with
disputed ownership;
◆ Mapping of settlements against approved layout plans in order to issue title deeds to deserving beneficiaries;
◆ Development and implementation of strategies on regularisation and rebuilding decent workspaces and markets for SMEs; and
◆ Implementation of strategies to ensure that foreign nationals do not operate in sectors of the economy reserved for locals, such as transport, retail and wholesale trade, barber shops, hairdressing and beauty saloons. Cabinet is pleased to advise that the aerial mapping of Caledonia settlement has already been completed by the Zimbabwe National Geo-spatial and Space Science Agency (ZINGSA).
The mapping exercise revealed that at least 30 percent of superstructures in the area fall outside the approved layout plan, with 4 703 households out of a total 33 090 having settled on land reserved for servitudes and social amenities.
The households will be accorded priority in the relocation exercise in order to pave way for putting up of the servitudes and social amenities. ZINGSA is now proceeding to carry out the mapping of Harare South settlements.
It should be noted that all urban settlements will be mapped against approved layout plans in order to provide sound basis for regularisation and enable the issuance of title deeds to deserving beneficiaries.
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