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Source: Fifth meeting decisions matrix | The Herald February 27, 2019

Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Monica Mutsvangwa

FIFTH MEETING DECISIONS MATRIX:26th February, 2019

ITEM (1) PUBLIC ENTERPRISE REFORM PROGRAMME: Update on the Establishment of the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA): Restructuring of the Nationals Competitiveness Commission

CABINET DECISION

The Minister of Finance and Economic Development briefed Cabinet on the progress on the public enterprise reform programme, with particular reference to the establishment of the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) and restructuring of the National Competitiveness Commission as follows:

Establishment of the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA)

Cabinet noted as follows:

The legislation to underpin the operations of ZIDA is now before Parliament;

An interim Inter-Ministerial Committee to provide one-stop shop investment service is now fully operational;

A fully-fledged ZIDA, which will complete the processing of investment approvals within a day is set to be fully operational by the end of the second quarter of 2019.This is bound to significantly improve the investment climate in the country, and thereby stimulate economic development in line with the goals in Vision 2013.

Restructuring of the National Competitiveness Commission

Cabinet reconsidered its decision on April 2018 to convert the National Competitiveness Commission into a Department under the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. Following a submission by the Minister of Industry and Commerce and in light of prevailing international best practice, Cabinet approved the recommendation by the minister that the National Competitiveness Commission should continue to operate as an autonomous entity that is premised on private sector involvement.

(2). Report on Progress in the Implementation of 100-Day Projects:

Cabinet received progress reports on the implementation of 100- Day Projects by the Ministers of Primary and Secondary Education, and of Transport and Infrastructural Development as follows:

Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development

The Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development briefed Cabinet on (5) priority projects that are under implementation:

Dulisation of the road from tollgate to Melfort along Harare–Mutare Road: Work on the five kilometre stretch stands at 80 percent completion.

Dualisaton of road from Norton to tollgate along the Harare-Bulawayo Road:-

The surfacing of the nine kilometre stretch was completed and work on the rail over is underway.

Construction of Pembi Bridge Approaches:-

The construction of a new two-lane bridge was completed and what remains is the construction of the road approaches to the bridge.

Computerisation of transport management systems:-

The computerisation of the learner’s driver’s licence at VID Eastlea under a Public Private Partnership arrangement is 95 percent complete. The procurement and installation of the hardware and software has been completed.

What remains is linking the platform to the SAP payment system.

(3) Ministry of Primary and secondary Education

The Minister of Primary and Secondary Education presented to Cabinet progress on the prioritised projects for the first 100-Day Cycle as follows;-

Provision of Science Teaching and Learning Materials:-

Two hundred units of the proposed 300 Primary Mobile Science Laboratory units are now in place. Tendering for Science kits for 3 000 primary schools is underway.

Construction of Mariga Primary School and five other new schools to 100 percent completion:-

Construction of Mariga Primary School is 15 percent complete and the rest at 50 percent

Construction of additional learning facilities in schools (Community IRA-supported Infrastructure Development):- Two classroom blocks at St Josephs Primary School are at 99 percent completion, while the two classroom blocks under construction at Beitbridge Government Primary School are 90 percent complete.

Learner and Curriculum Support through Partnerships:-

The project was commissioned by the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, whereby 400 iPads were delivered by 20 primary schools.

Forty one of the 60 assistive devices for 60 learners who are hard of hearing were fitted.

Upgrades and register 10 satellite schools in Mashonaland West and Midlands provinces:-

Construction work at the 10 satellite schools in Kariba and Siakobvu District in Mashonaland West and Zvishavane; Mberengwa and Shurugwi Districts in Midlands Province are at various levels of completion.

(4) Principles for the Manpower Development Amendment

The Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development presented principles to amend the Manpower Planning and Development Act (Chapter 28:02) in order to align it with the Zimbabwe Constitution. Cabinet approved the amendments, which principally seek to streamline and elevate the role of tertiary institutions as well as professional bodies in the industrialisation and modernisation of Zimbabwe. It also seeks to entrench good corporate governance.

(5) Principles of the Citizenship Amendment Bill

Following presentation by the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Cabinet approved the principles for the amendment of the Zimbabwe Citizenship Bill as part of the ongoing process of aligning the country’s laws to the provisions of the Constitution.

Key provisions of the amendment include the following:

Renaming of the Citizenship of Zimbabwe Act as the Zimbabwe Citizenship Act;

Permitting of dual citizenship for citizens by birth;

Establishment of a Zimbabwe Citizenship and Immigration Board to, inter alia , oversee the granting and revocation of citizenship by descent and registration;

Prohibition of dual citizenship for citizens by descent and registration; and

The requirement for applicants for citizenship by registration to have resided in Zimbabwe for 10 years, contrary to the current requirement of five years in terms of the current Citizenship of Zimbabwe Act.

(6) The Bread Supply Situation

The Minister of Industry and Commerce briefed Cabinet on the persistent shortage of bread on market, together with the accompanying pressure for price increases.

He then highlighted that in the context of the Buy Zimbabwe Campaign, it had been proved by one entrepreneur that local wheat can produce bread at a cheaper price without the need for importation of ingredients. In the light of this information, Cabinet will consider various options to ensure that consumers throughout the country obtain bread at affordable and viable prices.

(6) Update on the Battlefields Minefield Disaster

The Ministers of Local Government Public Works and National Housing and Mines and Mining Development briefed Cabinet on the ongoing recovery work at the Cricket Mine where four miners are still trapped.

Cabinet noted with concern that the dewatering of the shaft which should clear access to level five where the miners are believed to have been working at has not progressed fast enough owing to some technical problems relating to the state of the mine shaft.

Cabinet shares the extreme anxiety being borne by the affected families and will do everything possible to conclude the search process.

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Source: UN humanitarian chief arrives today | The Herald February 27, 2019

Mark Lowcock

Ellen Chasokela Herald Reporter
United Nations (UN) Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mr Mark Lowcock is expected to arrive in Zimbabwe today to assess the humanitarian situation in the country and propose a way forward.

The visit will be Mr Lowcock’s first to Southern Africa since he assumed his roles in 2017.

UN communications specialist Mr Sirak Gebrehiwot said Mr Lowcock will be in the country from today till Friday

“Lowcock will meet with senior Government officials, the diplomatic community, humanitarian organisations and members of the civil society,” he said. “He is also expected to meet with people in Epworth and Mudzi district, who have been affected the most by increasing food insecurity.”

Mr Gebrehiwot said during the three-day visit, Mr Lowcock will also launch the Zimbabwe Flash Appeal.

“Mr Lowcock, with the UN Resident Coordinator Mr Bishow Parajuli, on behalf of the Humanitarian Country Team, will also launch the 2019 Zimbabwe Flash Appeal on Thursday in Harare,” he said.

“At the launch, Lowcock will host a press conference, with final remarks about the mission and donors will also announce contributions to the humanitarian operation in Zimbabwe.”

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Source: . . . 24 suspected illegal forex dealers in court | The Herald February 27, 2019

Tendai Rupapa Senior Reporter
Police have intensified a crackdown on illegal foreign currency dealers under an operation code-named “Dzosai Mari” and 24 suspected dealers appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts between Friday and Saturday last week.

They were arrested separately in Harare. Some of the suspects appeared before magistrate Mr Edwin Marecha.

The other group appeared before Mr Learnmore Mapiye on charges of contravening Exchange Control (Amendment) Regulations, 2018 (No.5), which criminalises illegal trading in foreign currency.

Ten of the suspects were released on $150 bail each. The remainder remains in custody pending ruling on their bail applications.

Operation “Dzosai Mari” started last year. It is being conducted by the police and other stakeholders.

In November last year, several illegal foreign currency dealers were raided and arrested in Harare under the same operation.

They were convicted and their money was forfeited to the State.

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Source: Chivayo failed to deliver, court told | The Herald February 27, 2019

Chivayo

Geraldine Zaranyika Herald Reporter
Wicknell Chivayo did not carry out any meaningful work on the Gwanda solar project despite being paid US$5 million in advance, State witness and Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) financial director Mr Eubert Chiwara told the court yesterday.

Chivayo stands accused of defrauding ZPC of the money and his trial started on Monday. The prosecution, led by Mr Zivanai Macharaga, invited Mr Chiwara, who is the first State witness in the case, to testify.

“I cannot comment that he breached the contract because there is a project team that can be answerable to that,” he told magistrate Mr Lazini Ncube.

“All I can say is that what we expected from the contract was not fully done.

“The accused has done some work, but the work is not of value to ZPC since it is not complete. When we pay in advance, we expect the work to be done.”

Mr Chiwara said it was important for Chivayo to fulfil provisions of the contract.

“The contract is important to ZPC and the nation as a whole because we need to power the nation, preserve foreign currency and utilise renewable energy,” he said.

“The nation and industries are the ones to benefit from this.”

Chivayo’s Intratrek was awarded the tender for the Gwanda solar power project, but allegedly failed to deliver, despite receiving the US$5 million. Chivayo is being charged in his personal capacity, while Intratrek is cited as the second accused.

He is denying the charges.

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Source: Editorial Comment: Mnangagwa’s Botswana deal stinks – NewsDay Zimbabwe February 27, 2019

Editorial Comment

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa, in his inaugural speech following the November 2017 coup that thrust him to power, promised to make State institutions work, unlike his predecessor former President Robert Mugabe, whose centralisation of authority had rendered even Parliament ineffective.

The announcement this week that Zimbabwe had “mortgaged” $500 million worth of diamonds to neighbouring Botswana as part of Mnangagwa’s efforts to fund his monetary policy raises a red flag, if not a stink.

That authorities have announced the signing of the deal, with Mnangagwa and his Motswana counterpart Mokgweetsi Mosisi set to rubberstamp the decision later this week, means Parliament has been overlooked.

This is outright illegal and flies in the face of Mnangagwa’s pledge of being “a listening President” and his commitment to a more constitutional government that is ready to respect the rule of law and allow institutions of good governance to exercise their authority.

Less than two years into Mnangagwa’s government, the military has been deployed twice on civilians, with gruesome consequences and this with no parliamentary approval, even as an afterthought.

No less than 20 people have been killed by the army. Mnangagwa has become a law unto himself and while Mugabe is the wrong person to talk about the role of the army in ordinary governance systems, the former Zanu PF leader is right that the “military should go back where it belongs” — the barracks.

Mnangagwa’s deal with Botswana could actually help Zimbabwe since the neighbouring country has acquired expertise in beneficiation around the diamond sector, but that does not give government carte blanche to auction our gems without due regard to the dictates of the law.

How does he justify the mortgaging of future generations’ heritage for short-term economic gains?

Zimbabweans must sit up and take notice, and question Mnangagwa’s sincerity in riding roughshod over other arms of the State, particularly Parliament. The Legislature must also wake up and demand its space.

These are individuals elected by the people to represent their interests against a parasitic elite that has since forgotten its connection to citizens.

Mnangagwa thinks he owes nobody an explanation, but it is important that someone reminds him that his administration does not operate in a vacuum.

Our problems might not be Mnangagwa, after all. It’s a sleeping population and an equally docile legislature that only wakes up when it comes to allowances and off-road cars.

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