Mutsvangwa's Post Cabinet media briefing - Full statement

The Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Monica Mutsvangwa addressed a Post Cabinet media briefing in the Cabinet room at Munhumutapa Building today.

Mutsvangwa highlighted that Cabinet deliberated on Provincial Councils, West Nicholson bus disaster and other traffic accidents, the new Parliament building construction update, Lithium mining developments and Rural electrification.

Below is Mutsvangwa's full statement.


1. Cabinet approved the Principles of the Provincial Councils and Administration (Amendment) Bill which was presented by the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing. The Amendments have been prompted by the need to align the current Provincial Councils and Administration Act [Chapter 29:11] with the provisions of the New Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Number 20 which advocate for the devolution of power to provincial and metropolitan councils.

2. West Nicholson Bus  Accident
Cabinet received a report from the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing on the fatal Brooklyn Bus accident which occurred at West Nicholson along the Gwanda - Beitbridge road and claimed 33 lives. While investigations to establish the actual cause of the accident continue, Cabinet, nonetheless, expressed grave concern over the increasing road carnages on the country's major highways and conveyed its condolences to bereaved families and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. Cabinet directed the Ministries that constitute the Civil Protection Unit to urgently revamp, the country's disaster response mechanisms so as to ensure swift assistance to victims.

3. Ground Breaking Ceremony for the Construction of the New Parliament Building in Mount Hampden

Cabinet received a brief indicating that His Excellency the President E.D. Mnangagwa will preside over the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the New Parliament Building in Mount Hampden on 30th November, 2018. This will trigger the commencement of construction work on this long awaited and very important Project.

4. Launch of the Arcadia Cabinet was also briefed that His Excellency Lithium Mine in Arcturus the President, E.D. Mnangagwa would Goromonzi also preside over the ground-breaking ceremony to mark the commencement of mining operations at Arcadia Lithium Mine in Arcturus, Goromonzi on 3e November 2018.

As you may be aware, lithium, is the mineral of the moment, being a key component for the manufacture of electric car batteries and cellphone chips. As such, the exploitation of such a mineral will create a basis for the development of high-end technology industries in Zimbabwe, which are often referred to as industries of the future.

5. Priority Projects Cabinet approved the following priority Approved by Cabinet for projects from Ministries for immediate lImmediate Implementation implementation under the 100-Day programme:

Mines and Mining Development

• Increasing capacity of the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) Conglomerate Plant from 200 tonnes per hour to 450 tonnes per hour;
• Establishment of two (2) chrome smelters at Afrochine Smelting (Pvt) Ltd;
• Establishment of two (2) chrome smelters at ZIMASCO;
• Establishment of Gold Service Centres at Penhalonga, Shamva and Silobela;
• Installation of the Unki Smelter Energy and Power Development
• Marvel 175 MVA transformer at Marvel Substation in Bulawayo;
• Prince Edward Dam 33/11KV substation in Harare;
• Transformer manufacturing at ZENT, Harare;
• Rural electrification in all the eight (8) rural provinces;
• Operationalisation of the Mabvuku Service Station in Harare;

Ministry of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting

• Installation of Radio Transmitter at Maphisa;
• Installation of Radio Transmitter in Kanyemba;
• Construction and Commissioning of an Outdoor Public Viewing Screen at Mushumbi Pool in Mbire District;
• Establishment of a ZBC (ZIM24) Online News Channel;
• Content Production for Broadcasting Programmes;

Transport and Infrastructural Development

• Dualisation of road from tollgate to Melfort along Harare - Mutare;
• Computerisation of transport management systems;
• Launch of the road from Norton to Tollgate along the Harare - Bulawayo Road;
• Fencing of Beitbridge-Bulawayo Road.
As usual Cabinet will call for updates on progress from Ministries for the above-stated Projects.