Story by Oleen Ndori
GOVERNMENT says the Nutrition Financing Strategy will increase resources towards nutrition and non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention programmes through deployment of resources from Sugar Sweetened Beverages and fast-food tax revenue.
In 2025, Zimbabwe recorded an improved Global Hunger Index owing to interventions such as the Pfumvunza/Intwasa Programme, the Food Deficit and Drought Mitigation Programme and interventions by the First Lady, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa.
In this week’s Post Cabinet Media Briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Zhemu Soda highlighted that the Nutrition Financing Strategy will support health responses and management of non-communicable diseases.
“Cabinet noted that the nutrition gains are threatened by the increasing consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and fast foods, leading to rising rates of obesity, overweight and diet-related non-communicable diseases. The Nutrition Financing Strategy will therefore increase resources towards nutrition and NCD prevention programmes through the deployment of resources from sugar-sweetened beverages and fast-food tax revenue.
“The funds will be allocated across the following strategic pillars, namely: Health and Nutrition; Lands, Agriculture and Food Systems; Coordination and Programme Management; Human Capital Development; Social Protection; Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH); Advocacy and Communication; and Research, Development and Innovation.”
Cabinet also discussed the Zimbabwe National Quality Policy 2026-2030.
“The Zimbabwe National Quality Policy 2(2026-2030) will provide a coordinated framework for strengthening Zimbabwe’s quality infrastructure and engender a competitive and fair business environment, thereby enabling local companies to compete favourably in the regional and international markets. The Policy will ensure that goods are produced to agreed standards of measurement through accurate testing and certification.
“Ultimately, consumers will be protected from unsafe or sub-standard products. The Zimbabwe National Quality Policy 2 is anchored on six pillars as follows: Standardization; Metrology; Accreditation; Conformity Assessment; Technical Regulations; and Quality Promotion and Use.
“The key interventions under the pillars include among others, the enactment of a Standards Act to Page 3 of 6 recognise the Standards Association of Zimbabwe as the National Standards Body; the development and implementation of programmes to promote Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises; and strengthening the National Metrology Institute under the Scientific and Industrial Research and Development Centre,” Dr Soda said.
Amendments to the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Act and the Tobacco Research Act were also discussed.
“Cabinet received and approved the Principles for the Amendment of the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Act, which was presented by the Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development. The resulting Act will address the several changes that have occurred in the nature of the industry since the last amendment in 1997.
“More specifically, the amendment will allow the Tobacco Research Board to trade under a name which shows its expanded scope, including conducting research on both manufactured and unmanufactured tobacco products. The proposed amendments will further enhance the Tobacco Industry Marketing Board’s regulatory measures for the industry and align the current Act to the provisions of the Public Entities and Corporate Governance Act and the Public Finance Management Act,” Minister Soda said.
With over 60 000 licences awarded by the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development to date, Cabinet also deliberated on how competitiveness can be enhanced in the extractive sector.
