Judith Phiri [email protected]
THE Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development is holding a five-day strategic planning workshop in Bulawayo aimed at strengthening the agricultural sector’s performance, improving policy implementation and developing strategies to enhance food security and sustainable agricultural production.
The workshop running from November 02 to 06, brings together the Ministry officials, key stakeholders, development partners, private sector representatives and other Government departments to deliberate on strategies for strengthening agricultural production, improving food security and enhancing the sector’s contribution to national economic development.
The strategic planning meeting is expected to provide a platform for assessing progress made under the Ministry’s existing programmes while aligning its priorities with the country’s broader development agenda, particularly the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2).
The official opening ceremony features addresses by Permanent Secretary Professor Obert Jiri, Bulawayo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Judith Ncube, Portfolio Committee Chairperson for Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Felix Saul Maburutse and a key note address by the Minister Dr Anxious Masuka.
Other key presentations on the opening day include an assessment of the implementation of the 22nd ZANU PF People’s Conference resolutions and an overview of the 23rd Conference resolutions for implementation in 2027.
The Ministry is also reviewing its performance under NDS2’s Agriculture, Food, Climate and Environment Cluster, alongside its 2026 budget utilisation, 2027 budget priorities and resource mobilisation strategies.
Another key area of focus is the progress made in implementing the Six-Pillar Drought Plan, as well as findings from the Comprehensive Agriculture Market Assessment Report.
Development partners, private sector representatives and other Government ministries and departments are also expected to outline priority areas and opportunities for collaboration in 2027, highlighting the importance of coordinated efforts in addressing challenges affecting agricultural development.
The programme further provides for an assessment of the Ministry’s vision, mission, core values, functions and policies, alongside client and stakeholder analysis and an environmental scan to identify opportunities, risks and challenges shaping the sector.
Participants will subsequently work on developing preliminary outcome and output performance frameworks, including strategies, assumptions, risks and mitigation measures to guide the ministry’s implementation of its programmes.
The workshop will also focus on developing the Annual Strategic Performance Plan (ASPP), including its monitoring and evaluation framework, while aligning ministers’ and permanent secretaries’ performance contracts with the annual plan.
The final day will see the adoption of the strategic plan, annual plan and performance contracts, followed by the presentation of a Resource Mobilisation Roadmap by Chief Director for Business Development, Markets and Trade, Mr Clemence Taderera Bwenje.
The workshop will conclude with the presentation of expected outcomes, outputs and targets to the Minister and Deputy Ministers, followed by discussions on the way forward and next steps.
The strategic planning exercise comes at a critical time when Zimbabwe is seeking to strengthen agricultural resilience, improve productivity, enhance climate adaptation and ensure sustainable food systems amid increasing climate-related challenges.
