1.0 UPDATE ON THE 2024-2025 SUMMER CROPS MARKETING
AND THE 2025 WINTER PRODUCTION PLAN
Cabinet noted the Update on the 2024-2025 Summer Crops Marketing and
2025 Winter Wheat Production Programme.
As the transformational programme of the Second Republic continue to
bear fruit, the nation is projected to record a grain surplus of
approximately 812 000 metric tonnes. This projection is based on an
anticipated cereal reserve of 3.01 million metric tonnes comprising an
expected harvest of 2 928 206 metric tonnes and an existing reserve of 83
526 metric tonnes, against an annual grain requirement of 2.2 million
metric tonnes. Notably, the surplus will be even greater if projections are
based on the SADC regional average cereal consumption rate of 8.5
kilogrammes per person per month or on the national actual average
consumption rate of 7.7 kilogrammes per person per month.
In order to ensure optimal support to the agricultural sector, resources will
continue to be availed to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) to facilitate
timeous payments for grain deliveries by farming communities. Grain
marketing will also continue to be conducted through multiple channels,
including the GMB, the Zimbabwe Mercantile Exchange (ZMX), and direct
sales to various agro-processors. In addition, the Warehouse Receipt
System is active, with a 2025 intake of 4 000 metric tonnes of cereals,
oilseeds, and pulses realized to date.
The 2025 cotton marketing season commenced on June 9, with
approximately 311 000 kilogrammes marketed to seven contractors to
date. In tobacco marketing, a significant milestone has been achieved, with
total sales surpassing the 300 million-kilogramme target set under the
Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan to reach 309 120 966
kilogrammes. This represents a 45.65% increase in volume, compared to
the 209 million kilogrammes sold in 2024, and sales are still ongoing.
Although the average price has slightly decreased from $3.45 to $3.36 per
kilogramme, the total value of sales has surged to over $1.04 billion, up
from the $721 million attained in 2024.
Regarding wheat production, over 122 142 hectares have been planted to
date, exceeding the initial target of 120 000 hectares. Government
continues to monitor key enablers to guarantee the achievement of an
anticipated production of 600 000 metric tonnes of wheat from the 2025
season. Currently, barley planting stands at 6 115 hectares, achieving
94.1% of the 6 500-hectare target. Meanwhile, 4 512 hectares of potatoes
have been planted, against a target of 8 750 hectares.
2.0 ZIMBABWE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE READINESS
ASSESSMENT REPORT
Cabinet considered and noted the Zimbabwe Artificial Intelligence
Readiness Assessment Report.
Zimbabwe is one of the six countries in Africa selected and sponsored by
UNESCO to take part in piloting the UNESCO Recommendation in deploying
Artificial Intelligence technologies, and addressing the ethical risks in
deploying Artificial Intelligence leveraging on the innovative Readiness
Assessment Methodology (RAM) tool.
Zimbabwe adopted the UNESCO Recommendation on Ethics of Artificial
Intelligence in November 2021. The Recommendation provides an
internationally agreed set of principles and comprehensive guidance to
policymakers on ensuring that this game-changing technology benefits
society and protects citizens against the associated risks.
A diagnosis of the national Artificial Intelligence landscape has been
provided, marking a significant milestone in Zimbabwe’s journey towards
harnessing Artificial Intelligence’s transformative potential for enhancing
socio-economic development.
The thematic areas that were used to assess the Artificial Intelligence
readiness of countries utilizing the UNESCO RAM tool included the legal,
social/cultural, scientific/ educational, economic, technical and infrastructural dimensions. The ethical integration of Artificial Intelligence technologies in government, business and citizens operations and transactions in this fourth industrial revolution is critical to the success of the economy.
3.0 REPORT ON THE DRUG AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Cabinet considered the Report on the Drug and Substance Abuse for the
period 12 March 2025 to 2 June 2025.
Regarding the update on the Supply Reduction Pillar, the Criminal
Investigations Department received five drones from the Ministry of Local
Government and Public Works for surveillance purposes at border posts.
Forty-one drug kingpins were named and shamed during the period, and
individuals were sentenced to custodial terms ranging from 12 months to
15 years in prison. A cumulative 206 raids were conducted nationwide,
leading to the dismantling of 39 illicit drug bases and arrests of 1 445
suspects. The Liquor Licensing Board inspected 461 premises, 429 of which
were licensed. The 32 premises that were found to be unlicensed were
each fined US$40.
Government is fully aware that empowerment programmes play a pivotal
role in transforming young citizens to be productive and avoid the trap of
drug and substance abuse. In this regard, the Ministry of Youth
Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training reached out to 212
426 youths through awareness campaigns and empowerment programmes
that included youth development leadership, financial literacy and
entrepreneurship. Seventeen thousand three hundred and forty-nine (17
349) youths were empowered through programmes such as fish farming,
the Mbire Goat project, the Presidential Youth Empowerment Scheme and
financial literacy training through Empower Bank and Tonganyika Trust. His
Excellency the President, Cde. Dr. E.D. Mnangagwa handed over tipper
trucks purchased under the US$2 million Presidential Youth Fund to young
entrepreneurs aimed at expanding businesses in sectors such as
construction, mining and transport.
In another milestone development 1 907 youths graduated under the
Youth Service in Zimbabwe, while 1 844 inclusive of 70 survivors of drugs
and substance use are undergoing training. The line Ministries carried out
campaigns against drug and substance abuse as follows with the Ministry
of Primary and Secondary Education reaching out to 1 082 875 pupils; the
Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises
Development engaging 24 364 young persons; through the Ministry of
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development. While 305
youths benefited from Green Jobs. In addition, 662 heifers, 31 000 chicks,
and 890 000 fingerlings were distributed under one of the ongoing
Presidential Empowerment Scheme targeting the youths.
4.0 RATIFICATION OF THE SADC PROTOCOL ON EMPLOYMENT
AND LABOUR
Cabinet considered and approved for ratification the SADC Protocol on
Employment and Labour.
The SADC Protocol was signed on the 17th of August 2024 at the SADC
Summit of Heads of State and Government and aims at promoting decent
work, establishing fair labour standards, coordinating labour laws across
the region, driving job creation, enhancing migrant worker rights and social
security, combating child labour, and working towards regional integration
through harmonized labour policies.
The Protocol emphasizes on the recognition of basic human rights
particularly those that link with labour laws and the domestication of
international labour obligations.
5.0 RATIFICATION OF CONVENTION 187: PROMOTIONAL
FRAMEWORK FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH
Cabinet considered and approved for ratification Convention 187:
Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health.
Convention 187 provides for occupational health, safety and mitigating the
effects of occupational injuries on productivity as well as on socio-economic
development. The major objectives of the Convention are to promote
continuous improvement of occupational safety and health to prevent
injuries, diseases and death by developing a national policy, national
system and national programmes; to achieve progressively a safe and
healthy working environment; and to periodically consider measures to be
taken to ratify relevant Occupational Safety and Health Conventions of the
International Labour Organisation.
6.0 FOREIGN AFFAIRS MATTERS
6.1 Report on the Third United Nations Oceans Conference
(UNOC3) held at Nice in France from 9th to 13th June 2025
Cabinet noted the Report on the Third United Nations Oceans Conference
(UNOC3) which was held in Nice, France from 9th to 13th June 2025.
The Third United Nations Oceans Conference (UNOC3) took place under
the theme “Accelerating Action and Mobilising all Actors to
Conserve and Sustainably use the Ocean”. The Conference centered
on key issues, including ocean governance, conservation and sustainable
use of marine resources, inclusion, and financing for development.
