http://22ND POST-CABINET PRESS BRIEFING (2022) 1.pdf (veritaszim.net)

July 26, 2022

The National University of Science and Technology (NUST) Campus Radio Station Installation project in Bulawayo, studio renovations and civil works for the installation of the campus radio station which would Page 13 of 15 increase access to information by University students, staff and nearby communities within the coverage of the radio station is 90% complete

Beitbridge Community Radio Station - Lostha FM now live

Lotsha FM has been opened in Beitbridge and will be broadcasting mainly in Tshivenda giving  the communities a voice. The radio station will be operating and covering 300km wide district.

Ntepe-Manama Community Radio Station Launched in Gwanda

Marginalised communities have been given platforms to articulate issues affecting them in their own languages through establishment of community radio stations

Ntepe-Manama Community Radio Station Launched in Gwanda

Marginalised communities have been given platforms to articulate issues affecting them in their own languages through establishment of community radio stations

The Lupane State University Campus Radio Installation project, is 50% complete, with the Transmission Equipment having been availed for installation by Transmedia

The Lupane State University Campus Radio Installation project, is 50% complete, with the Transmission Equipment having been availed for installation by Transmedia

The Twasumbuka Community Radio Studio Equipment in Binga, Matabeleland North, is 20% complete with preliminary feasibility works having been completed

The Twasumbuka Community Radio Studio Equipment in Binga, Matabeleland North, is 20% complete with preliminary feasibility works having been completed

Chimanimani FM Radio Station launched

Chimanimani FM Radio Station launched

NyanganiFM officially launched and broadcasting.

NyanganiFM officially launched and broadcasting. 
The station in Nyanga, Manicaland province, will become the country’s second community radio station to officially go live as of 12 May 2022. Station has wide coverage range covering as far as Mutoko, Marondera, Mozambique and Macheke. 

Implementation of Development Programmes for the Tjawo (San) Community

The Ministry of Local Government and Public Works'implementation of Development Programmes for the Tjawo (San) Community. Projects so far identified by Line Ministries to improve the livelihoods of the Tjawo communities include the following: • Goat rearing, market gardening and dam scooping. • The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has since met with the Tsholotsho Rural District Council to identify possible sites on which to build primary and secondary schools. Treasury will fund the construction of two primary and secondary schools for the Tjawo, out of the fifty schools which it has undertaken to finance. • Over 5 000 national identity documents have been issued by the Registrar-General’s Office under a mobile registration exercise the Department mounted for the community, and the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage personally visited the communities to assess progress. • The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) have already completed recruitment for the current year, they have undertaken to recruit from the San communities in the forthcoming recruitment cycle. The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) has recently flighted advertisements which they have shared with the Tjawo communities, and a quota has been reserved for them.

Adoption of the Principles for the Language Bill

The Minister Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, presented the Principles for the Languages Bill. The Bill will safeguard the country’s 16 officially recognized languages, in fulfilment of Section 6 of the Constitution. The Government of Zimbabwe recognizes that language is a powerful vehicle of a people’s culture and identity, and the proposed Act will promote, preserve and develop the languages of Zimbabweans. Given the diversity of languages in the country, the Act will ensure their use in order to avoid marginalization of any languages or community from loss of identity and culture.

Addition of BAZ licences

The BAZ licences more 8 Community Radio Stations

Government to document San People

Following the Cabinet decision on ensuring that the previously undocumented citizens among the San Community are catered for, the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage was directed by the President to go and engage the community and Traditional Leadership on the issue. Minister Kazembe updated Cabinet on the outcome of his recent visit to Tsholotsho as follows: a. There are about 3 000 San people in Tsholotsho area; b. The 3 000 unregistered people should be registered without any hassles; c. The registration process will commence on Monday, 14 September,2021; and d. The chiefs will assist in the registration process, and nobody should be turned away.

Government's delegation visit to the San Community

Government delegation’s visit to the San Community in Tsholotsho District in Matabeleland North Province. Based on report provided to Cabinet, Cabinet noted that the Language Centre at Midlands State University has already translated the Constitution, the National Development Strategy 1: 2021-2025 as well as Covid-19 information manuals into the San/Tjwao language, with a view to expediting measures to safeguard the San community and advance its development. Cabinet directed as follows: that every Ministry should identify and take up a developmental role in areas inhabited by the San/Tjwao communities; that two or three primary and an equal number of secondary schools be set up as boarding institutions in areas easily accessible to San/Tjwao communities, in order to enhance school completion rates; that the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage should instruct the Registrar General’s Office to issue birth and identity documents to the inhabitants of San/Tjwao and similar communities in Zimbabwe who have hitherto been unable to obtain such documentation.

Approval of engagement of a private partner in the implementation of a National Biometric Database

Cabinet considered and approved the proposed engagement of a private partner in the Implementation of a National Biometric Database for the Production of e-Passports, National Identity Cards and Birth Certificates. The partnership will increase the passport production capacity to 4 million units per year.

Water Security, key to the attainment of Vision 2030

President E.D Mnangagwa commissioned the Bulawayo Water Supply Augnentation Project in Nyamadhlovu Mat North.

Licensing of community radio stations

 Zimbabwe welcomed the licensing of the country’s first-ever three community radio stations as a step in the right direction towards opening up the broadcasting sector to new players.

BAZ licenses Community Radio Stations

The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) licensed more Community Radio Stations and compass stations at the National University of Science and Technology (Nust), Lupane State University (LSU) and Harare Polytechnic College. Last year BAZ awarded three licences to Mbembesi Development Trust, Ntepe-Manama Community Radio Trust and Nyangani Community Radio Trust.The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe announced it had licensed three more Community Radio Stations. The licences were issued to, Beitbridge — Shashe Community Radio Broadcasting Association which covers Beitbridge and Shashe, Chiredzi Rural Communities Development Initiative Trust trading as Avuxeni FM which covers Chikombedzi, Chiredzi, Rutenga, Mahenye and Malipati and to Lyeja-Nyayi Development Trust that covers Hwange and Victoria Falls

Approval the Guardianship of Minors Amendment Bill

Cabinet considered and approved the Guardianship of Minors Amendment Bill, 2020 as presented by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs as Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Legislation. The Bill seeks to align provisions of the Guardianship of Minors Act [Chapter 5:08] to the current Constitution. The Bill provides for the exercise of joint guardianship and custody of parents.

BAZ starts processing community radio licences

THE Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) has started verifying information and carrying out fact-finding missions in the communities that submitted applications for radio licences that meet their set standards. BAZ intends to license at least 10 community radio stations and 19 campus radio stations for a 10-year period.

RG decentralises issuance of documents to Murambinda

The Government has established a Civil Registry sub-office at Murambinda Growth Point as part of efforts by the Registrar General’s department to ensure all citizens have access to identity documents. Work on the sub-office began last year through an initiative by the community and the Member of Parliament for Buhera West, Cde Soul Nzuma.The Murambinda sub-office is one of 206 sub-offices that have been established countrywide and is expected to service people at the growth point and beyond, who have been travelling up to 30 km to access registry offices in Buhera and Gaza.

Approval of a General Amnesty to prisoners to reduce the prison population

Cabinet considered and approved the proposal to have a General Amnesty as presented by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. Cabinet noted that the country’s prison population currently stands at 22 000 against an official holding capacity of 17 000. The General Amnesty, which will be for certain specified categories of prisoners, will decongest the country’s prisons and alleviate challenges being experienced by the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS).

Approval of release by Treasury of US$6,796,500; 580,200 Euros and ZWL$11,781,900 towards meeting the cost of clearing the passport backlog

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

The government has increased passport production from 60 to 1000 per day

Passport production has increased from 60 to 1 000 per day following the delivery of essential consumables, including paper, gold foil, passport covers, glue and security threads, and a new printing machine for personalisation. Production is expected to increase further to at least 3 000 daily as two new personalisation machines are on their way. Plans are afoot to introduce day and night shifts to clear a 340 000 passport backlog that accumulated since last year.

National documentation hearings start in Matabeleland North

Public hearings on the national inquiry on access to national documentation in the country are set to commence on 15 July 2019 in Matabeleland North province. In a statement, the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) said the public hearings, held under the theme “My Identity, My Right”, will cover all national identity documents including citizenship.

The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) is set to roll out a five-month national inquiry on identity documents to establish gaps

The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) is set to roll out a five-month national inquiry on identity documents to establish gaps and the extent of their unavailability among Zimbabweans. The inquiry is part of fostering and enforcement of human rights enshrined in the Constitution, which states that everyone has a right to an identity.

Cabinet approved proposed changes to the citizenship laws to pave way for the granting of dual citizenship to people born in Zimbabwe.

On 26 February 2019, Cabinet approved proposed changes to the citizenship laws to pave way for the granting of dual citizenship to people born in Zimbabwe.