Cabinet considered a preliminary report by the Minister of Finance and Economic Development on the 2019 Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review. The Fiscal Policy Review confirmed the position that as a consequence of the reform measures being undertaken by Government, the country’s economy was now heading towards macro-economic stabilisation. However, a more comprehensive presentation on the subject matter will be made to Parliament during the Minister’s mid-year Fiscal Review and Supplementary Budget Statement scheduled for 31st July 2019.

Cabinet received a report from the Minister of Health and Child Care on deliveries of hospital equipment from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and India. This positive development was a result of His Excellency President E.D. Mnangagwa’s re-engagement with the international community, where he extended an appeal for support towards revival of Zimbabwe’s health care delivery system.

Cabinet noted with satisfaction the decision taken by the Monetary Authorities to abolish the multicurrency system and replace it with a mono-currency as contained in Statutory Instrument 142 of 2019. This measure is a critical step towards the full restoration of a Zimbabwe sovereign currency as envisaged under the Transitional Stabilisation Programme. Cabinet also applauds the other supportive measures being introduced by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to bolster this initiative.

Cabinet received its weekly update report from the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, chairperson of the Cabinet Committee on Environment, Disaster Prevention and Management. Government and the UN have now come up with modalities to coordinate the various agencies providing humanitarian assistance to the cyclone-affected areas.

Cabinet received the weekly report by the Minister of Energy and Power Development on the country’s fuel supply situation. The Minister indicated that the country’s fuel supply situation is beginning to stabilise. He also stated that it had come to his notice that some fuel stations were now selling fuel in US dollars at prices as high as US$7 per litre. He met them soon after Cabinet and warned them to desist forthwith from this illegal and unacceptable practice.

Cabinet received its weekly update from the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing July Moyo on the ongoing recovery efforts in the aftermath of the Cyclone Idai disaster. Cabinet was briefed that the registration exercise to identify and isolate genuine cases of beneficiaries for continued relief assistance has now been completed in Manicaland province. Significant progress continued to be registered in the repair and rehabilitation of damaged road, water, health, irrigation and schools infrastructure.

The Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Cde July Moyo, once again, briefed Cabinet on the ongoing recovery programme in the cyclone-hit areas. The Minister informed Cabinet that a total of 1 654 internally displaced people are sheltered and receiving relief assistance at seven holding centres in Chimanimani and Chipinge. A total of 46 602 people comprising special groups, namely children, the elderly and the disabled have so far been given relief assistance.

Report on Cyclone Idai Disaster

The Chairman of the Ad-Hoc Inter-Ministerial  Task Force on COVID-19, Honourable Vice President K.C.D. Mohadi presented the weekly report on the national preparedness and response to the COVID-19 Outbreak, which was adopted by Cabinet. Cabinet noted with satisfaction the progress in mass testing evidenced by the increase in the number of COVID-19 tests to 13 329 as at 4 May 2020, up from the 6 395 tests reported on 27 April, 2020. The country has to date registered thirty four (34) COVID-19 confirmed cases, inclusive of five (5) recoveries and four (4) deaths.

Cabinet received a report on the country’s preparedness and response to the COVID-19 outbreak as presented by the Honourable Vice President Mohadi, Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Task Force on COVID-19 outbreak.  Cabinet noted with satisfaction that the general populace had heeded the call to stay at home to prevent the spread of COVID-19.  The Zimbabwe Republic Police was also applauded for being cooperative in enforcing the lockdown Order.  Cabinet considered and approved the Action Plan as presented by Hon. Vice President K.C.D.