Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Barbara Rwodzi
BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA in MASVINGO
Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi has paid tribute to President Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa and the First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, for their guidance, which she says has enabled her to successfully lead the country’s tourism sector.
Minister Rwodzi revealed this at Masvingo Airport on Saturday (September 5), following her latest feat, winning the Women in Leadership Award at the Africa Tourism Leadership Awards (ATLF) 2026.
The awards ceremony was held at Meropa Casino and Entertainment World in Polokwane City, South Africa, recently, where Minister Rwodzi emerged victorious ahead of Soweto Travel Shop of South Africa and Gorata Gabaraane of Fairground Holdings, Botswana, following an independently adjudicated and audited process by BDO South Africa.
The prestigious recognition celebrates Minister Rwodzi’s leadership and contribution to advancing Zimbabwe’s tourism agenda, while highlighting the growing role of women in shaping Africa’s tourism future.
“I can only be happy and very appreciative to His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde Dr ED Mnangagwa, for allowing me to serve and to serve in his Government and to serve the people of Zimbabwe.
“So let me thank the First Lady for working together with us and myself, in giving guidance on so many things why these awards are coming.
“And I really owe all these awards to the First Lady because she is the brainchild of most of the things that we are doing,” said Minister Rwodzi.
She added: “But to say to the people of Zimbabwe, we thank you very much for heeding the call.
“Upper middle-income society and economy is not just for one person, it’s for all of us and it can only take a wholesome goal to achieve all these objectives that President has.”
She added that tourism in the country was on the hype, accelerating and that the fundamental objective was to grow the contribution of tourism to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country.
“So when we get this recognition, it says a number of things, those are loaded statements to confirm that the work that we are doing, the strategies that we tap into from the NDS1 and NDS2 in the President’s strategies, we are devolving in the economy as well as the whole of Government approach,” she said.
check X link with the Minister’s video below
https://x.com/munyabless/status/2096389478671634436?s=20
Minister Rwodzi further revealed that the success of her ministry was also a result of working together with other ministries, saying a whole-of-government approach was key in driving the country’s tourism agenda.
The latest recognition is a proud moment for Zimbabwe and Destination Zimbabwe, as the country’s tourism leadership continues to receive continental recognition and strengthen Zimbabwe’s position on Africa’s tourism landscape.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry also scooped Bronze in the Leading in Progressive Policy Award at the Africa Tourism Leadership Awards (ATLF) 2026, alongside the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife of Kenya and Rwanda Development Board.
The recognition reaffirmed Zimbabwe’s commitment to progressive tourism policy and creating an enabling environment for sustainable tourism growth.
