Third Cabinet meeting decisions matrix Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa shares a lighter moment with Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Amon Murwira (left) while Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando looks on during a post-Cabinet briefing at the Munhumutapa Offices in Harare yesterday. — Picture: Kudakwashe Hunda
  1. Mining Initiatives Towards Achievement of the US$12 billion Industry by 2023

1.1 Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development and the Zimbabwe Open for Business

Cabinet received an update from the Minister of Mines and Mining Development on the close cooperation with the Zimbabwe Open for Business Forum, an Independent Organisation formed by young Zimbabweans which has played a key role in marketing the Zimbabwe mining industry at its own cost.

In particular, Cabinet was advised of the role played by the forum at the recent Mining Indaba in Cape Town in early February, 2020, where apart from arranging various investor interface functions, the Zimbabwe Open for Business Forum established for the first time a Zimbabwe Lounge in the national interest.

In view of the foregoing, Cabinet agreed that the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with Zimbabwe Open for Business for cooperation in promoting mining investment in Zimbabwe.

  1. Outstanding annual fees with respect to mining concessions

2.1 The Mines and Minerals Act provides for annual renewal payments from all holders of mining title.

2.2 The Minister of Mines and Mining Development updated Cabinet on outstanding amounts due from holders of mining title relating to annual renewal of title.

2.3 Cabinet resolved as follows:

(a) That all holders of mining title are urged to observe their obligations to pay for annual renewal of mining title failing which they would lose the title as provided for in the Mines and Minerals Act;

(b) All mining titleholders who owed money to the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development as at 31st January 2020 be given until 30 April 2020 to pay up, failing which the mining title would be lost in terms of the provisions of the Mines and Minerals Act.

  1. The Strategy to Clear the Passport Backlog at the Central Registry

Cabinet considered and approved the strategies to clear the passport backlog at the Central Registry as presented by the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage. The strategies are as follows:

(i) That the current Treasury payment facility of US$1 000 000 per month towards debt settlement be maintained;

(ii) That Treasury avails US$6 796 500, 580 200 Euros and $11 781 900 towards meeting the cost of clearing the passport backlog;

(iii) That the costs of ordinary and emergency passports currently pegged at $53 and $253 respectively, be increased to $150 for an ordinary passport and $600 for an emergency passport.

  1. Manpower Planning and Development Amendment Bill, 2019

Cabinet considered and approved the Manpower Planning and Development Amendment Bill, 2019 which the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs presented as the Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Legislation.

The Amendment is intended to align the Manpower Development Act (Chapter 28:2) with the Constitution, under the ongoing Legislative Reform Programme which is being pursued by the Second Republic.

The amendment primarily seeks to streamline and elevate the role of tertiary institutions, science and technology institutions as well as professional bodies in the industrialisation and modernisation of Zimbabwe and its provisions will take precedence over all matters relating to manpower development and training.

Each institution will be obliged to establish on its own or in partnership with another, an Innovation and Industrialisation Fund for the purpose of supporting the development of start-up commercial enterprises and or technological solutions within its purview towards the attainment of Vision 2030 of a knowledge and technology-driven upper middle income society with a high quality of life for all.

The Amendment also provides for the entrenchment of good corporate governance in the running of the institutions.

The Bill replaces the Minister as trustee of the Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund (ZIMDEF) with the Zimbabwe Manpower Development Board, which will henceforth administer the Fund.

This will help curb excesses that had previously manifested in a manner that negated the purposes and objectives of the Fund.

In addition, the Bill provides for the transfer of persons employed in tertiary institutions from the Public Service to the Tertiary Education Service.

  1. Centre for Education, Innovation, Research and Development Bill, 2020

Cabinet considered and approved the Centre for Education, Innovation, Research and Development Bill, 2019, which was presented by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Legislation.

Through the Bill, the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development seeks to promote the national vision for Zimbabwe to become an upper middle income economy by 2030.

The Bill also seeks to ensure that Zimbabwe’s education, innovation, research and development is translated into an industry that provides jobs and opportunities through the exploitation of natural resources.

To this end, the Bill establishes the administrative framework for the promotion of the innovation and industrialisation agenda.

The Centre for Education, Innovation, Research and Development will be the apex of coordination for the country’s premier institutions, hosting experts in specialist areas for given tasks and allowing them to return to their original work stations upon completion of assignments.

The new law will apply to public and private industry and all institutions of higher and tertiary education in Zimbabwe, encompassing universities; teachers’, polytechnic and industrial training colleges; vocational training centres and institutions that undertake research and innovation.

The centre will also incorporate a rural outreach bias in its setup.

  1. Progress report on the Implementation of State Enterprises and Parastatals Reforms

Cabinet noted with satisfaction the Progress Report on the Implementation of State Enterprises and Parastatals Reforms as presented by the Minister of Finance and Economic Development.

The New Dispensation requires State Enterprises and Parastatals, some of which remain key enablers to business and investment, both domestic and foreign, to play a pivotal role towards the realisation of Vision 2030’s aspiration for a Prosperous and Empowered Upper Middle-Income Society.

The reform initiatives are being implemented at a time when the majority of the Strategic State Enterprises and Parastatals have been operating sub-optionally as evidenced by their failure to adequately perform and fulfil their mandates.

Much ground was covered during 2019 towards revamping performance of public-entities under the State Enterprises Reform Framework, as articulated in the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (2018-2020).

The implementation of the reform strategy for the Public Enterprises and Parastatals has been integrated, and now embraces the following critical aspects:

Restructuring, privatisation and commercialisation of public entities;

Improved corporate governance of public entities;

A sustainable remuneration framework for public entities; and

Facilitative and transparent public procurement systems and processes across public entities.

The reform measures being implemented at public entities are beginning to yield positive results, with the emergence of profit postings and declaration of dividends at some of the SEPs in the recent past, while some have managed to reduce losses.

The implementation of the above-stated reforms is key in the unlocking of value in the public entities sector.

In particular, the current privatisation programme presents lucrative investment opportunities for both domestic and foreign investment, leading to the injection of the much-needed capital for resuscitation.

You Might Also Like

Comments

Take our Survey

We value your opinion! Take a moment to complete our survey