Story by Josephine Mugiyo, Diplomatic Correspondent
THE just ended 44th SADC summit hosted in the country, which saw President Emmerson Mnangagwa assume chairmanship of the regional bloc, has been described as a huge success.
This came out during the post-cabinet media briefing following the seating of the cabinet this Tuesday.
This Tuesday’s cabinet seating comes just after the country hosted the 44th SADC summit and the cabinet reviewed the summit and also congratulated President Emmerson Mnangagwa for assuming the chairmanship.
“Cabinet joins the nation in congratulating His Excellency the President on assuming the SADC Chairmanship and for successfully hosting the 44th SADC Summit on 17 August 2024. All member states were represented by Heads of State and Government or other appropriate high-ranking levels.
“A total of 2 306 delegates were accredited during the SADC Industrialisation Week and 3 041 during the Summit. The accreditation proceeded flawlessly under secure conditions,” said the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Jenfan Muswere.
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister, Ambassador Frederick Shava also chipped in on the attendance by SADC Heads of State.
“We feel honoured by the number of heads of state that attended the summit. The attendance means heads of state and government were keen to attend the summit and it was a lot of respect that they were paying to President Mnangagwa.”
Meanwhile, cabinet was also briefed on government’s stance towards alluvial mining in the country, which has affected some major rivers.
Cabinet announced that it has moved in to address the situation by resolving to ban riverbed mining.
“Cabinet considered and approved the Report on Alluvial Mining and Rehabilitation of Degraded Rivers, which was presented by Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Honourable Dr Anxious Masuka, as Chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Mining and Environment.
“Cabinet noted that, ever since its commencement in 2011 across the country’s rural provinces, large-scale and mechanical alluvial mining or riverbed mining has resulted in water pollution, siltation, and degradation of river channels and disruption of riverine ecosystems. Cabinet directed that riverbed mining be banned with immediate effect,” said Dr Muswere.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister, Dr Anxious Masuka noted that apart from individuals who are illegally doing river bed mining without even registering, there are those who register with the relevant departments but fail to live up to the expectations.
“We have noted three classes of mining companies those that apply legally and adhere then those that apply but do something different, and then there are the illegal ones who just go to the river.
“In banning we need to ensure that courts mete out deterrent penalties and fines; we felt that the fines are not deterrent enough and the experience is that some of the companies saw it is better to pay a fine than rehabilitate. It was felt that this is tantamount to environmental theft.”
Next week, the Zimbabwe Agriculture Show roars into life and the cabinet was updated on the increase in the number of exhibitors.
“The show will be running under the theme, ‘Cultivating Prosperity: Growing business. Innovating for change. Nurturing our future’ and will feature sections such as agri-produce drawing entrants from winners of Provincial Shows, tobacco, cotton and livestock.
To date, 430 exhibitors have taken space compared to 410 exhibitors last year,” Dr Muswere noted.
Cabinet was also apprised of the progress in the relocation of the Matabeleland North Provincial Offices from Bulawayo to Lupane.
