BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA
Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister, Barbara Rwodzi has been named the Unstoppable African Cabinet Minister of the Year 2026, at the inaugural Unstoppable African Awards held in Nairobi, Kenya on Saturday.
Minister Rwodzi emerged the overall winner following a continent-wide and global public voting process, beating other African ministers, with Kenya’s Minister for Public Service Geoffrey Ruku coming second.
Kenya’s Minister of East African Affairs Beatrice Askul was named second runner-up, while Uganda’s Minister for Local Government Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi finished third runner-up.
The awards ceremony was held at the Hilton Hotel in Nairobi during the launch of The Africa Agenda Forum (TAAF).
Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Kenya, Winpeg Moyo, received the award on Minister Rwodzi’s behalf, while accompanied by Tourism and Hospitality Industry Permanent Secretary Dr Takaruza Munyanyiwa and Zimbabwe Tourism Authority Chief Executive Officer Dr George Manyaya.
In her acceptance speech, which was read on her behalf by Ambassador Moyo, Minister Rwodzi said the recognition was not merely a personal achievement, but an affirmation of Zimbabwe’s collective efforts to position tourism as a strategic driver of economic growth and national development.
She acknowledged President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s leadership in placing tourism at the centre of the country’s economic transformation agenda, in pursuit of Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy.
Minister Rwodzi also recognised the contribution of First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, Patron of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, saying her passion for Zimbabwe’s heritage, culture, wildlife and gastronomy continued to enrich the country’s destination identity.
And she said Zimbabwe was increasingly attracting international recognition, citing the country’s recognition by Forbes Magazine as the world’s number one must-visit destination for 2025, as well as awards received at the ITB Berlin tourism fair and recognition by Condé Nast Traveller among the best places to visit in 2026.
The Minister said Government was deliberately diversifying the country’s tourism offering through its 13-cluster tourism development model, moving beyond traditional wildlife and nature-based tourism.
She said the strategy was embracing culture and heritage, religious tourism, sports tourism, gastronomy tourism and Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism, among other products, to ensure that all 10 provinces, communities and tourism enterprises benefited from sector growth.
While highlighting Victoria Falls as one of the country’s major tourism attractions, Minister Rwodzi said Zimbabwe’s tourism story extended beyond the iconic destination to include its five UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
These include Victoria Falls, Great Zimbabwe, Mana Pools, Khami Ruins and the Matobo Hills.
She also highlighted reforms aimed at improving the country’s tourism competitiveness, including the reduction of selected tourism levies, the introduction of electronic visas and e-gates, and the decentralisation of the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo.
The Minister added that Government was also placing women and young people at the centre of tourism development, pointing to Zimbabwe’s hosting of the inaugural UN Tourism Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Africa in Victoria Falls, which attracted representatives from more than 33 countries.
She further revealed that the recognition came at a particularly meaningful time in her leadership journey, having also been named Zimbabwe’s Overall Best Performing Cabinet Minister for 2025, becoming the first woman to receive the recognition since its inception.
“I consider these honours a responsibility rather than a destination. They challenge us to do more, lead with purpose and demonstrate that transformative leadership can deliver tangible results for our people,” said Minister Rwodzi.
She dedicated the continental award to the Government and people of Zimbabwe, President Mnangagwa, tourism sector workers and young African women aspiring to leadership positions.
“Let this recognition be a reminder that African women belong at the decision-making table, shaping policies, leading institutions and driving the continent’s economic transformation.”
Minister Rwodzi congratulated Ambassador Dr Yusuf Noah and his team for establishing The Africa Agenda Forum, describing it as an important platform through which Africans could define their own narrative, celebrate their achievements and shape the continent’s future.
“Africa is not merely the future. Africa is the present, and we must have the courage, vision and determination to shape it,” she said.
