Cabinet institutes measures to guarantee food security for all
FOLLOWING the presentation of the 2023 Performance Evaluation Results at today’s sitting, Cabinet considered and approved the outcomes as presented by the independent consultants, Best Practices (Pvt.) Ltd.
The professionally conducted performance evaluation covers the following: 21 Ministries, Departments and Agencies; 10 Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution; 112 State-Owned Enterprises; 8 Independent Commissions and 92 Local Authorities. The results of the performance evaluation will be made public at the Performance Contracts Signing ceremony scheduled for 15 March, 2024.
2.0 THE CONSOLIDATED REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF 100-DAY CYCLE PRIORITY PROJECTS FOR THE YEAR 2023
Cabinet approved the Consolidated Report on the Implementation of 100-Day Cycle Priority Projects for the Year 2023 as presented by the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Honourable Lovemore Matuke.
The nation is advised that a total of four hundred and ninety-three (493) projects were implemented under the 100-Day Cycle Priority Projects for 2023. The priority projects were selected on the basis of alignment to Vision 2030. The majority of the projects, 348 in total, surpassed set targets, while 61 performed within the agreed range.
Among the key achievements which cut across the 14 National Development Strategy 1 thematic areas are the following:
at Mutare Teacher’s College in Manicaland Province;
plant in Mutoko, Mashonaland East Province;
tion of new classroom blocks and ablution facilities, drilling of boreholes and solarisation;
registration of 40 satellite schools;
to Manicaland, Masvingo and Mashonaland Central provinces;
Epworth and Lupane, as well as Mutawatawa, Gwanda and Chiredzi;
ICT laboratories at schools in Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Midlands, Masvingo, Manicaland and Matabeleland North provinces;
establishment of 40 Community Information Centres countrywide;
in Bulawayo Metropolitan Province;
ria, South Africa; Maputo, Mozambique; and Berlin in Germany;
and Classic 263 radio stations;
FM, Power FM
at Cowdray Park in Bulawayo Metropolitan Province and Mataga in Midlands Province;
equipment at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals and at all provincial and central hospitals;
enterprises; abe International Airport in Harare Metropolitan
Province;
Harare-Beitbridge Road, with a cumulative 470.45 km having been opened to traffic;
Road;
Hwange 7 and 8 Expansion Project;
Dam in Mashonaland East Province; rural provinces;
inces under the Presidential Rural Poultry Scheme;
Mine; and erals processing plant;
3.0 REPORT ON THE PRELIMINARY FOOD SECURITY OUTLOOK: APRIL 2024-MARCH 2025
Cabinet also considered and adopted the report on the Preliminary Food Security Outlook: April 2024-March 2025 as presented by the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Hon AJ Masuka.
Cabinet wishes to advise the nation that in light of the El-Nino-induced drought, various measures are being instituted to guarantee food security for all and ensure that no one dies of hunger. Among other issues considered, Cabinet discussed the importance of considering more hectarage for growing rice in view of increased rice consumption by the citizens. Cabinet also emphasised the need to support and promote local wheat production for direct consumption for a swap with maize in order to meet maize demand for the nation.
In light of the foregoing, Cabinet has approved as follows:
March 2025 to facilitate winter cereals production planning;
comparative and competitive advantages of wheat this winter;
son per month be used immediately for social welfare and be adjusted after October to 8.5kg per person per month;
price of US$390 per tonne in-order to mop up excess local grain;
and potato seed;
maize for stock feed, under strict supervised milling and distribution;
cooking oil by households with effect from July 2024;
Committee.
4.0 REPORT ON THE INAUGURAL JOINT PERMANENT COMMISSION FOR COOPERATION BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE AND THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS: 19 to 22 FEBRUARY, 2024
Cabinet also received the report on the Inaugural Joint Permanent Commission for Cooperation between the Republics of Zimbabwe and Belarus, as presented by the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Hon A Murwira.
Cabinet informs the nation that Zimbabwe hosted the Republic of Belarus for the inaugural Joint Permanent Commission for Cooperation from 19 to 22 February, 2024, in Harare. The commission welcomed the convening of a Business Forum on the margins of the meeting, to provide the captains of industry of Zimbabwe and Belarus an opportunity to cross-pollinate ideas on business opportunities in the two countries.
The nation is informed that the Inaugural Joint Commission for Cooperation discussed the following key issues, among others:
illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the West;
to support Zimbabwe’s bid for the non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council;
tation of the Memorandum of Understanding between the institutions of higher learning of the two countries, which saw seventy-two (72) memoranda being signed in 2023 alone;
of Belarus to organise supplies of medicines and medical equipment to the Republic of Zimbabwe on mutually beneficial terms;
ment of the Joint Working Group on Cooperation in the field of Agriculture between the Republic of Belarus and the Republic of Zimbabwe; and
areas of transport, tourism, local government, commerce and industry.
5.0 REPORT ON THE ANTALYA DIPLOMACY FORUM
Cabinet received and noted a report on the Antalya Diplomacy Forum held in Antalya, Turkiye from the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Honourable Amon Murwira.
The Antalya Diplomacy Forum was held from 1 to 3 March 2024. The nation is informed that during the Forum, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade noted the need for Africa to produce enough food for its needs. He also underscored the need to invest in modern technologies and energy in order to promote economic growth and sustainable development.
On the sidelines of the Forum, the Minister held bilateral meetings with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro, Mozambique and Turkiye during which they discussed issues of mutual interest. The Minister also met with the President of the Turkish Business Council, Mr. Nail Olpak.
The nation is further informed that the Minister had a chance to visit two Turkish companies, which proposed to partner the country through supplying solar packages for homes and offices, and the establishment of an industrial park for solar energy. An agro-processing company also proposed to construct a farm-to-fork model project with a zero-waste strategy. The project would have a capacity to process 100 cattle and 300 sheep during an 8-hour shift.
6.0 BUS ACCIDENT IN SOUTH AFRICA
The Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Honourable Felix Mhona updated Cabinet on the road traffic accident involving a Simplex Transport and Logistics bus that occurred in Western Cape, South Africa on 9 March, 2024 in which 13 Zimbabweans lost their lives and 12 persons were injured. The bus which was enroute to Cape Town collided with a haulage truck.
The Zimbabwe Embassy in South Africa is working with authorities who are still investigating the cause of the accident.
The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, on its part, is making efforts to engage the bus company to establish the compliance status of the vehicle and its driver.
The nation will be kept informed of the corrective measures that the Ministry will take in the matter in-order to demonstrate and consolidate its commitment to improved road safety and security.
In the meantime, Cabinet wishes to express its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and wish a speedy recovery to the injured Zimbabweans.
HARARE-BASED businessman and war veteran Chemist David Siziba, who died on Saturday last week, was one of the pioneers of the establishment of cellular services in Zimbabwe.
Siziba passed on at Parirenyatwa Hospital. He was 76.
Born on June 30 1947 in the Insiza, Filabusi, Matabeleland South, Siziba did his primary and secondary schooling at the Bretheren-in-Christ Church School after which he joined Fletcher High School for A-Levels.
In 1971, while studying for an agricultural degree at the University of Rhodesia, he became a student activist which made him unable to complete his degree programme.
He secured a Commonwealth scholarship to go the University of Bombay and obtained a BSc degree in Electronics Engineering.
During his time in India, his political resolve and activism grew. Cde Siziba proceeded to the United Kingdom where he joined the staff of the ZAPU office. He worked as a deputy engineer for the BBC in 1977 and several other London establishments.
In 1978, Siziba left UK for Zambia to join the liberation struggle and was part of a 25-member team sent for training as an intelligence expert in Russia alongside Bernard Ncube, Ivathi Ndlovu, Patrick Mlilo, Martin Jabulani Shatin, Mxolisi Ncube, Obert Ndlovu, S Ndlovu, and Mandlenkosi Ncube.
He was then posted to Lusaka at the ZAPU headquarters where he served with Jeremy Brickhill, Advocate Nkiwane, Frazer Nyathi, Sam Madondo, Victor Mlambo, King Nebart Madida, Swazini Ndlovu and TG Sibindi.
Siziba was then posted to the National Security Organisation (NSO) wing of ZAPU, responsible for external intelligence operations, where he worked closely with the late Russian-trained intelligence supremo and national hero, Dumiso Dabengwa, under national hero Father Zimbabwe Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo.
After the historic Lancaster House ceasefire and transitional talks in London at the end of liberation war, Siziba returned home