Availability of potable water requisite for cholera containment
TH POST CABINET Press briefing of session 11 of the Second Republic November 15, 2023
1. The Government Experiences Exchange Programme Workshop For Ministers, Deputy Ministers And Permanent Secretaries
The Minister of State for Presidential Affairs in the Office of the President and Cabinet informed Cabinet that the Government will be hosting a delegation from the Office of His Royal Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid AI Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai UAE. The delegation is coming under the auspices of Memorandum of Understanding on Improvement and Development of Government Services signed between Zimbabwe and the UAE in February this year. A major part of MoU is the Government Experience Exchange Programme under which Zimbabwe has agreed to focus nine areas of reform known as Workstreams.
2. Report on The Responsible Mining Audit
Cabinet received and adopted a Report on the Responsible Mining Audit as presented by the Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Honourable Zhemu Soda.
The nation is being informed that His Excellency, the President launched a Responsible Mining Audit on 11 May 2023 aimed at ensuring that all mining operations are conducted in compliance with the country’s laws. The audit was conducted in eight of the country’s provinces namely: Mashonaland Central, Midlands, Masvingo, Manicaland, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Mashonaland West, and Mashonaland East. The audit managed to cover 422 mining sites/ locations in these provinces.
The nation is being informed that large scale mines, with at least 1 000 employees, are to a large extent, complying with mining laws, environmental laws, Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, Immigration, labour and energy regulations. There are however isolated cases where immigration laws are being violated.
Regarding Small Scale Mines, with a labour force of up to 200 employees, the audit established that most of them are not complying with the legal transportation and licensing issues.
The nation is being informed that in all the identified transgressions, corrective action is by taken including the following: imposition of fines; confiscation of explosives; suspensions from operating licences; cautions with instructions to regularise within a stipulated time-frame. The Responsible Mining Audit came up with a number of useful recommendations which Government is implementing and the Interministerial Committee should continue to develop other solutions.
3. Report on the Harare Metropolitan Province Emergency Solid Waste Management Programme
Cabinet received a second update on the Harare Metropolitan Province Emergency Solid Waste Management Programme as presented by the Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Honourable Mangaliso Ndlovu.
The nation is being informed that the Emergency Solid Waste Management Programme is a response to the deplorable state of management in the Harare Metropolitan Province. Treasury released the first tranche of the scheduled three equal releases of US$700 000 on 23rd October 2023. As at 8
November 2023, a cumulative total of 1 083 illegal dumps had been cleared, translating to 54% of the target. The main focus in the next six weeks will be to clear all remaining dumps. The target is to clear the following waste dumps: 10 per day in Harare; 9 per day in Chitungwiza; 2 per day in Epworth; and 2 per day in Ruwa.
The nation is being informed that Government has directed CMED to assess all trucks, tippers, tractors and compactors in the four local authorities that require repairs with a view to cutting down the costs of hiring equipment. CMED has since identified the vehicles and will be incorporated in the existing fleet. The Environmental Management Authority (EMA) has transferred finances to CMED for the repairs that should be completed within one week. EMA and the Taskforce team have developed a schedule of solid waste collection in most communities, which will be implemented from 13 November 2023. The target is to collect solid waste at least once per week at each household.
The nation is advised that CMED is in the process of opening access roads in informal and formal communities which are inaccessible for the collection of waste. All local authorities have been directed to ring-fence funds levied for waste collection, and the funds be utilised for that purpose. The same local authorities have been further directed to ensure that each business premise has a bin, and that the frontages of the premises are kept clean.
4. Report on the Saudi-African Summit Cabinet received a report on the Saudi – African Summit as presented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Honourable Dr. Fredrick Shava.
The nation is being informed that His Excellency the President, Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa led a Zimbabwean delegation to the First Saudi-Africa Summit hosted by the King of Saudi Arabia, His Highness Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud from 9 - 12 November 2023. A total of 54 African countries were represented, with 23 at Heads of State and Government level.
The nation is being informed that several issues of mutual concern were discussed with respect to economic ties, food security, counter-terrorism, and combating extremism, humanitarian and health issues, and cultural cooperation. More than 50 Cooperation Agreements in the fields of political, economic, social and development were signed between Saudi Arabia and African countries. Saudi Arabia pledged US$50 billion towards Africa’s Economic Development over the next 7 years.
The nation is further informed that His Excellency the President held meetings with the following: President Nyusi of Mozambique; the Minister of Investment of Saudi Arabia, Honourable Khalid Al-Falih; and 10 Saudi companies interested in investing in Zimbabwe.
5. Report on the 3RD Inter-Africa Trade Fair
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Honourable Dr. Fredrick Shava reported on the 3rd Intra- African Trade Fair held in Cairo, Egypt from 9 to 15 November 2023.
The nation is being informed that His Excellency the President led a delegation to the Fair, whose objective was to create avenues to harness trade and investment opportunities through the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Zimbabwe, Egypt, Botswana, Malawi, Benin, Chad and two financial institutions (Afreximbank and Arise Integrated Industrial Platforms) signed the Export Agriculture for Food Security Initiative. Afreximbank is committing billions to boost production, processing and intra-African trade in agricultural products and Zimbabwe is expected to benefit from the fund.
The nation is further informed that His Excellency the President held the following bilateral meetings where issues of mutual interest were discussed: with his counterpart, His Excellency El Sisi, the President of Egypt; Chairman and CEO of Evergreen Private Limited, Dr Adel Almuslimany; and the President of Afreximbank, Professor Benedict Oramah. His Excellency the President also had a successful, well attended and interactive engagement with the Zimbabwean diaspora living in Egypt.
6. Update on Cholera
Cabinet received an update on cholera as presented by the Minister of Health and Childcare, Honourable Dr Douglas Mombeshora.
The nation is being informed that the Minister of Health and Childcare after noting that 80% of the 90 new cholera cases reported in Harare were in Kuwadzana, visited the area accompanied by the Mayor of Harare, the Director of Harare City Health, and an Engineer in the Department of Refuse Collection to get first-hand information. The team observed that: residents are not getting potable water as council was failing to pump adequate water at Morton Jeffrey Waterworks. Harare City Council is failing to manage the challenges.
The nation is advised that Cabinet has directed as follows:
a) that clean water be availed to the residents to reduce cholera incidences;
b) that the Civil Protection Act be activated to fight the disease; and
c) Central Government/ Media take tours to analyse the situation continuously.
7. Mining, Engineering And Transport (MINE ENTRA) Expo
The Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Honourable Zhemu Soda reported on the Mining, Engineering and Transport (Mine Entra) which was held from 1 - 3 November, 2023 at ZITF, Bulawayo. The Mine Entra was held under the theme: Accelerating Economic Growth through Mineral Beneficiation. The nation is informed that this exhibition was vital in promoting local and international investment as well as clarifying the needs of the Ministry Mines and Mining Development’s clients.
8. Report On The 3RD 100-Day Cycle Projects Of 2023