Cabinet approves new anti-corruption strategy, targets high-risk sectors

Cabinet on Tuesday approved Zimbabwe’s 2026–2030 National Anti-Corruption Strategy and reviewed plans to build a 600,000-tonne grain reserve as the Government prepares for drought linked to a strong El Niño.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa chaired the meeting, which also approved principles for stronger worker protections at state-indebted insolvent companies and received a report on regional efforts to improve access to climate-resilient seed.

Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube presented the anti-corruption strategy, which puts prevention alongside investigation and prosecution.

It covers legal reform, stronger institutions, enforcement, public participation, targeted action in high-risk sectors and the digitisation of public services.

The strategy is to be incorporated into government budgets and work plans, with progress measured against its stated objectives. The post-Cabinet briefing did not identify which high-risk sectors would be tackled first.

On food security, Agriculture Minister Dr Anxious Jongwe Masuka told Cabinet that the Grain Marketing Board held 365,688 tonnes of grain in the Strategic Grain Reserve as of 9 November.

The Government plans to use new AI-powered silos to help build a dedicated reserve of 600,000 tonnes by October 2027.

The Government has earmarked 119,068 hectares of irrigated land for maize this summer and established drought mitigation centres in 914 of the country’s 1,527 rural wards.

Nearly 15 million Pfumvudza/Intwasa plots had been recorded, representing 93.3 percent of the target.

The briefing identified 2.25 million cattle, roughly two in every five in the national herd, as being at risk from drought.

It also reported that the 2026 winter wheat harvest had reached 676,473 tonnes from 129,860 hectares.

Cabinet also approved principles for amendments to the law governing the reconstruction of state-indebted insolvent companies. Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi presented the proposals after the High Court declared section 28(2) of the existing Act constitutionally invalid, according to the briefing.

Under the proposals, employees would be able to contribute to company reconstruction plans and receive preferential creditor status for wages owed before proceedings began. The rights of workers dismissed during reconstruction would be governed by applicable labour laws.

Cabinet also received a report on the Africa Seed Summit, held in Eswatini from 5 to 7 October. Zimbabwe will draw up a national plan to implement the revised Africa Seed and Biotechnology Programme and incorporate farmer-managed seed systems into national policy.

The summit called for greater investment in climate-resilient varieties and expanded seed trade among African countries.