by Grace Chekai
Cabinet ensured citizens that it is doing all it can to ensure that the welfare of the citizens is addressed.
Addressing a post cabinet briefing yesterday, the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Kazembe Kazembe said that the decentralization of Passport Services to Chitungwiza District was 28 percent complete, with cabling, network connection, equipment installation and procurement and configuration of computer hardware and software still outstanding.
Minister Kazembe Kazembe said the Mbuya Nehanda Memorial Statue was now 70 percent complete and the statue was ready for mounting. He added that the statue would be mounted once the base structure was complete.
The Minister further stated other projects that the Ministry was undertaking during the current sixth 100 day cycle.
"Following are other projects that the Ministry is undertaking during the current cycle; construction of super structure for Chimoi camp flat "C", Harare (Zimbabwe Republic Police), Chiremba Balancing Rocks Monument, Epworth, Harare, establishment of community archives of Zimbabwe ZCC Mungo, Bikita, Massingham, and construction of bachelor's flats at Kazungula Border Post,” said the Minister.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Sibusiso Moyo revealed that he had held and delivered lectures, held diplomatic briefings and conducted interviews which had significantly boosted the country's image internationally.
He said that the re-engagement programme had continued slowly due to travel constraints occasioned by the Covid-19 outbreak. He further said that engagements with the USA and EU would continue until sanctions were lifted and that consumer services would continue to be enhanced with usage of virtual platforms.
Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Professor Mthuli Ncube revealed that the National Development Strategy: 2021-2025 (NDS1) remained on course for launching in early November 2020, with the Draft document going through the final approval processes. He added that revenues continue to improve due to enhanced revenue collection and administration.
The Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Ziyambi Ziyambi revealed that his Ministry had successfully launched the Food Production programmes at various Prison Farms, adding that the other projects that had become successful so far, are fighting corruption, construction of Chinhoyi and Mt Darwin Magistrate's courts as well as Judicial Services Commission offices at the same sites.
Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services reported projects that are now at various stages of implementation. Some of the projects are refurbishment of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education's radio studio, construction of a solar powered mobile stage and public address system for radio road shows, production of Covid-19 infomercials and 2020 Heroes commemorations skits in 16 national official languages and the installation of an outdoor public viewing screen in Umguza, District, Matebeleland North.
Honourable Vice President Constantino Chiwenga in his capacity as the Minister of Health and Child Care outlined the projects being undertaken by his Ministry namely, construction of a Primary Care Centre in Harare South, Establishment of the Bartley Memorial Block, Covid-19 isolation and treatment centre, Obstetric Fistula Unit at the United Bulawayo Hospital, rolling out of the electronic tracking system and establishment of covid-19 community isolation centres in Bulawayo and Matebeleland South Provinces.
Relatedly, the Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs and Chairperson of the Ad-Hoc Inter-Ministerial Task Force, Oppah Muchinguri assured citizens that there was sufficient PPEs and medicines for supportive management of Covid-19 cases, and satisfactory quantities of raw materials for increased production in the event of a surge in demand.
Meanwhile, cabinet considered and approved Phase 2 of the Belarus Farm Mechanisation Facility which was presented by the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement, Dr Anxious Jongwe Masuka.
He said, "Under Phase 2, the Republic of Belarus will supply an additional US $51 940 149 worth of farm mechanization equipment, following the successful launch of the first US $ 51 million facility on 30th September, 2020.The 1 337 tractors, five disc harrows and16 combine harvesters to be supplied under Phase 2 will raise the mechanised tillage area by 133 700 hectares."
The Minister also presented the proposal on toll manufacturing of Dipping Chemicals for the National Dipping Programme which was adopted by cabinet.
He said that having noted the challenges faced by farmers across the country and the heavy livestock losses due to tick-bone disease, Government has put in place the proposed Toll Manufacturing Programme. Under the Programme, the Department of Veterinary Services will procure imported raw materials while Chemplex locally produces materials required for the manufacture of the dipping chemicals.
The progress made so far during the sixth 100 day cycle show Government's commitment to improving the welfare of its citizens.
