32nd Cabinet meeting decisions matrix

Source: 32nd Cabinet meeting decisions matrix | The Herald September 11, 2019

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa addresses the media during a post-Cabinet briefing in Harare yesterday. — Picture: Justin Mutenda

10th September, 2019

1. Notice of the Death of Former

President Cde R. G. Mugabe

His Excellency President E.D. Mnangagwa formally notified Cabinet of the sad passing on of the founding father and former President of Zimbabwe Cde R. G. Mugabe at a hospital in Singapore on 6th September, 2019.

He then led Cabinet in observing a moment of silence in honour of the departed iconic leader. The body of the late former President shall be received at the Robert Mugabe International Airport tomorrow in the afternoon.

Details on the burial arrangements will be advised in due course.

2. Report on preparations for the 2019/2020 Summer Agriculture Season

The Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement briefed Cabinet on the state of preparedness on the 2019/2020 summer agriculture programme. After some discussion, Cabinet agreed on the following key strategic thrusts for the oncoming season:

1. a) that, to enhance productivity on farms, farmers’ clubs and associations be reactivated and supported;
2. b) that focus be on increasing productivity per unit area;
3. c) that investors be encouraged to set up plants for the local manufacture of fertilisers and agro-chemicals;
4. d) that local banks be facilitated to participate in the financing of agriculture;
5. e) that fertilisers and agro-chemicals be imported duty-free in order to ensure timeous availability and enhance productivity;
6. f) that communities be encouraged to adopt agro-processing technologies and to venture into horticultural production for the export market;
7. g) that there be dedicated energy supply to farmers, including through targeted investment in solar power; and
8. h) that irrigation rehabilitation be intensified in order to fully utilise the country’s abundant water bodies.
9. Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Bill, 2019

Cabinet considered and approved the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Bill which was presented by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs as chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Legislation.

The Bill seeks to align the existing legislation to the Constitution by, principally, providing for the following:

• broadening the definition of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle to include “those who fought, those who assisted and those who were imprisoned, detained or restricted”;
• recognising the contribution of all categories of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle to Zimbabwe’s independence and nationhood;
• the extension of suitable welfare such as pensions and access to basic health care; and
• establishment of a representative board to advise the Minister on the schemes relating to the benefits and welfare of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle and to hear appeals from people claiming entitlement where they are aggrieved by the decision of the relevant department.

The Bill repeals the War Veterans Act [Chapter 11:15] and the Ex-Political Prisoners, Detainees and Restrictees Act [Chapter 17:10] and consolidates them into one Act.

4. The John Deere Mechanisation Facility

In a major boost for the Farm Mechanisation Programme, Cabinet approved a US$51 million facility to be financed by John Deere which was presented by the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement.

The facility will involve the supply of agricultural mechanisation equipment so as to increase agricultural productivity and viability. The equipment to be imported under the scheme includes 80 combine harvesters, 1 300 tractors, 200 disc harrows, 400 planters, 200 seed drills, 100 boom sprayers, 100 tipping trailers and fast-moving spare parts for each of the equipment and machinery.

Furthermore, training will be given to farmers so as to guarantee sustainability of the programme.

The facility will extend loans of three to five years to participating farmers from all the country’s eight provinces at a 5 percent interest rate. Under the facility loans will be extended to participating farmers from all the county’s eight farming provinces.

5. Impact on Zimbabwe and region of the unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States of America and the

 European Union.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade tabled in Cabinet a paper highlighting the impact on Zimbabwe and the SADC region of the unilateral sanctions imposed by the USA and the EU.

The Minister stated that Zimbabwe had lost at least US$42 billion in revenue over the past 18 years due to the sanctions. It is also believed that Zimbabwe lost bilateral donor support estimated at US$4,5 billion annually, since 2001.

A total of US$12 billion in loans from the IMF, the World Bank and African Development Bank as well as commercial loans worth US$18 billion were also lost on account of the sanctions.

The sanctions also brought about an estimated GDP reduction to the tune of US$21 billion. The unilateral sanctions have and indeed continue to inflict grievous pain on the rank and file of the Zimbabwean citizenry, especially women and children, despite assertions that the sanctions are targeted and therefore not universal in their impact.

6. Update on the strike action by junior doctors

The Minister of Health and Child Care briefed Cabinet on the strike action by some junior doctors over their conditions of service. Cabinet noted that the junior doctors had already been awarded a cost of living adjustment of 60 percent and directed the Minister of Health and Child Care, together with the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, to urgently look into the outstanding issue of the review of their health-related allowances so as to bring back normalcy in the health sector.

7. Report on xenophobic attacks on immigrants in South Africa

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade briefed Cabinet on the current xenophobic attacks on immigrants in South Africa.

He indicated that a total of 171 Zimbabwean nationals had been affected, with two of them having lost their lives. Government is deeply saddened by this occurrence and is currently in the process of making arrangements to urgently repatriate the affected citizens back home.

Meanwhile, our Consulate in South Africa is engaging some international organisations for support to the affected citizens. Government continues to monitor the situation with a view to escalating the evacuation exercise should the situation deteriorate.

8. The 2019 Sanganai-Hlanganani World Tourism Expo

The Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation as Acting Minister of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry briefed Cabinet on the Sanganai-Hlanganani Tourism Expo due to be held in Bulawayo from 12th to 14th September 2019.

The edition will host 150 international buyers from various source markets which include South Africa, China, the United Kingdom, Spain, the UAE and Germany. This is expected to further investment in the local tourism sector.