PREPARATIONS for the 2025 Heroes and Defence Forces Days are well on course, with various activities lined up across the country.

Speaking during a Post-Cabinet Media Briefing in Harare this Tuesday, the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Jenfan Muswere, said the cabinet deliberated on progress made in preparations for this year’s Heroes and Zimbabwe Defence Forces days set for August 11 and 12, along with the 2026 Independence Day celebrations.

“Final preparations for the 2025 Heroes Day Commemorations are underway, and the main event will be held at the National Heroes Acre in Harare, and as is customary, provincial commemorations will also be held in all provinces across the country. A total of 223 families of fallen heroes and heroines will attend this year’s main event in Harare. His Excellency the President will present national flags to the family representatives of four National Heroes who were posthumously declared as such: Cde Benjamin Burombo, Brigadier-General (Rtd) Lameck Francisco Mutanda, Cde John Mbedzi, and Cde Jairos Jiri,” he said.

“Meanwhile, a soccer match between the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Select Team and the reigning Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League Champion, Simba Bhora, will crown the 2025 Zimbabwe Defence Forces Day celebrations.”

Dr Muswere also revealed that cabinet had approved the review of licences, permits, levies and fees in the agricultural sector to improve the ease of doing business.

“In fulfilment of last week’s Cabinet directive and His Excellency the President’s instruction, Cabinet considered and approved the review of licences, permits, levies and fees subject to further refinements in the agriculture sector, focusing on livestock, dairy farming and stock-feeds sub-sectors. This is also in line with the implementation of the ongoing case of ease-of-doing business reforms, which aims to reduce the cost of doing business and enhance growth in the Zimbabwean economy.”

Cabinet also received updates on the 100-day cycle projects in finance, information communication technology and health sectors.

“Under the Economic Growth and Stability Pillar, the Tax and Revenue Management System being implemented in three phases and has achieved the following: the projected active taxpayer target was surpassed due to nurturing activities for new registrants and also intensified follow up on already registered taxpayers; a strategy to engage associations and other stakeholders who deal with unregistered taxpayers has been put in place; and there was improvement from the First Quarter performance of 25.25% on-time compliance rates,” Dr Muswere said.

“In terms of the Digital Economy pillar of the National Development Strategy 1, the Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services highlighted the following achievements under her purview: Digital Skills training of 6 500 citizens. Of this number, 2 500 were trained under the Government Experience and Exchange Programme (GEEP), migration of internet connectivity to Starlink at 20 digital centres in Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Mashonaland Central, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Midlands, Masvingo and Manicaland,” Dr Muswere said.

Other takeaways from this week’s cabinet session include progress in the infrastructure development cluster that comprises the construction of bridges and the refurbishment of hospitals, along with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s visit to Nairobi, Kenya.