Story By Oleen Ndori, International Desk Editor
Government has put in place various strategies to ensure that the COVID-19 pandemic is kept in check during the festive season.
Briefing the media in the last post-cabinet briefing for the year 2022, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa said the measures that include vaccination drives and safety protocols will ensure maximum protection of citizens from the pandemic during the holidays.
“Force teams should strengthen the implementation of all COVID-19 public health and social measures with a focus on maximally protecting citizens during the Christmas and New Year holidays. Members of the public who are not vaccinated are encouraged to take advantage of this blitz to get vaccinated,” she said.
Cabinet also approved the Zimbabwe National Broadband Plan for the period 2023 to 2030 that seeks to enhance broadband penetration for accelerated economic growth in line with the fourth industrial revolution.
“The Zimbabwe National Broadband Plan is a nationwide initiative to provide access to and adoption of Broadband Services at Government, business, household and individual levels, with the aim of transforming Zimbabwe’s growth trajectory from being largely driven by the exploitation of natural resources to innovation-driven growth. The vision of the Plan is to have “An all-inclusive Digital Society powered by Premier Innovations by 2030,” said the Minister.
In a bid to promote the rights of the child, Senator Mutsvangwa also briefed the nation regarding the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and the alignment of laws to the constitution relating to the definition of the child, age of criminal responsibility and age of marriage.
“The Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care, Hon. C.G.D.N. Chiwenga presented the First Periodic Report of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, which was approved by Cabinet.
“Regarding the rights of children, in addition to the constitutional and legislative measures in place, the administrative measures implemented include the establishment of the Victim-Friendly Court to protect vulnerable child witnesses and the Victim Friendly Unit within the Zimbabwe Republic Police for the investigation of crimes against women and children involving sexual abuse and domestic violence. The Report shows that Zimbabwe has made great strides in promoting and protecting the rights of children through the implementation and domestication of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child,” she added.
Other issues covered include the SADC Energy Protocol, the Zimbabwe-Belarus Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation (JPCC) and the report on the 10th summit of the organisation of Africa, Caribbean and Pacific States.
