Online Reporter
Business Reporter
The Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development, Dr Anxious Masuka, will deliver the keynote address at the forthcoming Zimpapers Public Lecture Series, scheduled for July 29, 2026, at the Harare Show Grounds.
The lecture, themed “Smart Harvest, Resilient Nation: Agriculture as Zimbabwe’s Climate and Economic Shield,” comes at a critical juncture as the country grapples with the dual challenges of climate change and economic transformation. Agriculture remains the backbone of Zimbabwe’s economy, contributing significantly to employment, export earnings, and food security.
Dr Masuka is expected to deliver a 30-minute public lecture on the central theme, drawing on his extensive experience in agricultural policy and his leadership of flagship programmes such as Pfumvudza and the national irrigation expansion agenda. His address will be followed by a 20-minute fireside chat under the theme “Rain or No Rain – What Keeps Our Farmers Awake at Night,” which promises a candid discussion on lessons from the 2024 season.
Speaking ahead of the event, Kudzanai Sharara, Head Business and Events Hub at Zimpapers, said the public lecture series is designed to be a deliberate platform for intellectual exchange that brings together policymakers, industry leaders, and academics to deliberate on issues of national importance.
“The Zimpapers Public Lecture Series is a deliberate platform for intellectual exchange. It empowers our scholars, industry players, and policymakers to ask difficult questions, challenge orthodoxies and propose bold solutions,” Mr Sharara said.
He added that the lecture aims to bridge the gap between academic innovation, policy formulation, and commercial application, ensuring that evidence-based research directly informs national investment strategies and policy.
“The presence of key stakeholders from government, industry, and development partners at this forum is symbolic and strategic. It signals the importance of aligning national capital with national intellect,” he said.
Following the Minister’s address, a 60-minute panel discussion will bring together a distinguished line-up of agricultural experts and policymakers. The panel will include Professor Obert Jiri, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development; Alice Mapfiza, Chief Executive Officer of the Agriculture Marketing Authority; Wellington Mutizwa, General Manager of CBZ Agro-Yield; Bob Henson, Chief Executive Officer of DripTech; and Dr Jacob Gusha, Director of the University of Zimbabwe Agro-Industrial Park.
The panel will deliberate on the theme “Seeds, Soil, and Strategy – Building a Climate-Proof Agricultural Sector,” with discussions expected to cover irrigation targets, early warning systems, input tracking, and agro-processing.
The Zimpapers Public Lecture Series has established itself as a premier platform for national discourse, following successful editions on topics ranging from the Mutapa Investment Fund to counterfeit products and industrial development. The series has attracted strong backing from corporate sponsors and has been praised for its role in shaping national policy conversations.
Mr Sharara said the agriculture-themed lecture is particularly timely, given the sector’s centrality to Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 aspirations as well as a potential El Niño-induced drought this coming season.
Ahead of the 2026/27 summer cropping season, global weather models indicate a high probability—up to 90 percent—that another El Niño event will develop. In response, Government officials have urged farmers not to panic but to prepare early. The Government’s strategy includes promoting climate-smart agriculture, encouraging the planting of drought-tolerant seed varieties, and accelerating dam construction and irrigation development to climate-proof the sector.
Measures are also being implemented to protect livestock, with Permanent Secretary Professor Obert Jiri calling on farmers to bale hay and preserve livestock feed ahead of the dry season, aiming to produce at least seven million bales.
The Public Lecture is expected to draw a diverse audience, including large-scale and smallholder farmers, agribusiness investors, university and college students, irrigation engineers, seed and fertiliser suppliers, rural development NGOs, youth in agri-tech, and water management authorities. Economists, financial institutions, government departments, development partners, civil society, and climate action advocates have also been encouraged to attend.
Registration and inquiries can be directed to Kim at 0773618782 or Hilda at 0772926835, or via email at [email protected].
As Zimbabwe continues to navigate the complexities of climate change and economic transformation, the public lecture promises to be a defining moment in shaping the nation’s agricultural future. The doors open at 8:00 AM, with all stakeholders urged to “be part of the solution” in securing Zimbabwe’s harvest and future.
