Africa Press-Nigeria:<\/p>\n
The Zanu PF 339th politburo meeting held in Harare looked at mitigation measures to cushion vulnerable communities during the lockdown following the first declaration 37 days ago.<\/p>\n
Speaking after the meeting the President Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa thanked the nation for heeding this call which managed to keep the figure of those infected by the virus at 34 including four deaths and five recoveries.<\/p>\n
President Mnangagwa in his opening remarks said the ordinary session of the politburo was being convened against a background of unprecedented reality when the country and the rest of the world were under lockdown in an effort to avert the spread of the deadly COVID-19.<\/p>\n
He commended Zimbabweans for the manner they have complied and the manner in which they adapted to the new normal. Although the number of people who have tested positive remains low at 34, however, President Mnangagwa said there was a need to maintain vigilance going forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cGovernment through the Ministry of Health & Child Care and other stakeholders are increasing the number of testing centres to enable more people to be tested.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, we will continue to ensure the mandatory requisite quarantine of returnees as well those exposed to positive cases, The worry for those is now mandatory and this now requires and enforced without exception.
\nOn the 18th of April, Zimbabwe celebrated a momentous 40th independence commemorations although we could not gather as we often do to mark the occasion and this very important day, we must, however, never forget the symbolism of this significant day. Let us always protect and defend the proud heritage bequeathed to us by those already gone ahead of us as they laid a solid foundation for this nation.
\n\u201cAs a revolutionary political party never stop reflecting on the path journeyed as a nation and to draw inspiration from the experiences and lessons of the past and to chart the course for a brighter future and a more prosperous Zimbabwe.<\/p>\n
Zanu PF is aware of the hardships facing people during the lockdown adding that mitigatory measures are in place to cushion the vulnerable.
\nHe thanked local business people, embassies, ordinary citizens and countries such as China, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America and several other countries that have contributed in assisting Zimbabwe to fight COVID-19.<\/p>\n
\u201cGovernment is aware of the dire economic plight of our people as a result of the COVID-19 and induced lockdown. No sector of our economy has been spared. With those in the informal sector hardest hit. To mitigate against these challenges and to cushion against the associated negative macro-economic impact, I have since unveiled a ZWL 18 billion economic Rescue and Stimulus package. This has set aside economic packages cutting across to all segments of the economy, agriculture, mining, tourism, manufacturing, macro and small to medium enterprises as well as the creative cultural industries among others.<\/p>\n
\u201cFood grants and other forms of assistance will be equally availed for the rest of the year through the social welfare department,\u201d said President Mnangagwa.<\/p>\n
He urged party leaders through its structures, to be proactive and inform its membership about these initiatives and how they can benefit.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs we address the present COVID-19 epidemic challenges it is equally important to prepare for the post-COVID 2019 economic pandemic freeze. As such Government continues to monitor on all programmes announced in the 2020 Economic Budget and the Transitional Stabilisation Programme. Our agriculture must continue to produce to ensure food security through climate change mitigation strategies,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He said Vice President Retired General Constantino Chiwenga is spearheading the resuscitation and modernisation and mechanisation of that sector.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the immediate term, we have availed resources for a successful winter wheat farming programme and season. In the medium to long-term strategy will continue to be rolled out to mitigate the impact of climate change.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe support of the small and large scale mining sector players should keep our country on course toward a US 12 billion dollar sector 2023. Meanwhile, robust strategies must be developed by all player in the Tourism sector to revive the sector in light of the present COVID-19 to the hospitality, travel, and tourism and aviation industries. The tourism sector will also thus receive government support under the package,\u201d said President Mnangagwa.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe manufacturing sector and SMEs must harness the immense potential in home-grown innovative solutions to drive and propel our country\u2019s modernisation and industrialisation which has been made more evident with the present COVID-19 Repsponse storages. In this regard, there should be closer co-operation by the manufacturing sector, SMEs, and our educational institutions in the infrastructure development such as the Beitbridge-Harare road construction, as well as other roads such as the Nkayi-Bulawayo road, which would be accelerated.<\/p>\n
\u201cEqually government will be moving with urgency to help in easing the perennial water shortages in Bulawayo province,\u201d said President Mnangagwa.<\/p>\n
The chairman of the national taskforce on COVID -19, the vice-President and second secretary Kembo Mohadi also gave a detailed report on our national response to the pandemic during the course of the meeting.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Zanu PF secretary for Admin Dr Obert Mpofu said the post-COVID-19 world is a changed world both politically economically and socially.<\/p>\n
He also spoke about today\u2019s deliberations, the health of the party, the drive to bring more people to Zanu PF and the current developments in the MDC party where there were recalls, name-calling among its members including the accusations that Zanu PF was behind some elements within MDC saying that this is news to him and that Mwonzora is not Zanu PF and all these accusations demonstrate immaturity on MDC leadership.<\/p>\n
On the threats of war by MDC vice-president Tendai Biti yesterday Mpofu said Zanu PF is better qualified to speak about war because they fought one and won while utterances by Biti are just grandstanding.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Africa Press-Nigeria: The Zanu PF 339th politburo meeting held in Harare looked at mitigation measures to cushion vulnerable communities during the lockdown following the first declaration 37 days ago. Speaking after the meeting the President Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa thanked the nation for heeding this call which managed to keep the figure of those infected by […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":20757,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,10],"tags":[38,34],"class_list":{"0":"post-22823","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-all-news","8":"category-parties","9":"tag-zanu-pf","10":"tag-emmerson-mnangagwa"},"yoast_head":"\n