Online Reporter
President Mnangagwa is expected to preside over the 2026 performance contracts signing ceremony for Cabinet ministers and senior public sector officials today, alongside an awards ceremony recognising outstanding performers in Government.
The event will be held at Rainbow Towers this morning and forms part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen accountability and transparency within the public sector.
Performance contracts outline specific targets that ministers and senior officials are expected to meet during the year.
This initiative is designed to ensure that Government leaders are accountable for service delivery and the implementation of national development programmes.
In a statement, the Government indicated that the programme aligns with the Second Republic’s vision of reforming the civil service and improving governance.
Authorities have stated that the country is making steady progress towards becoming an upper-middle-income society by 2030 under the leadership of President Mnangagwa.
The process also supports broader development frameworks, including the Southern African
Development Community Vision 2050, the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The Government stated that as Zimbabwe transitions into the National Development Strategy 2 phase, it continues to use performance contracts to monitor and evaluate thousands of projects across sectors such as agriculture, mining, manufacturing, and tourism.
Observers believe that the system ensures measurable results that contribute to economic growth, job creation, and improved livelihoods.
Our Reporter Harmony Agere is providing live coverage of the event.
Colour, Camaraderie mark signing and awards ceremony
The atmosphere at the Harare International Conference Centre is vibrant this morning as Cabinet ministers, local authority leaders and heads of parastatals converge for the highly anticipated Performance Contract and Awards Ceremony.
The gathering has drawn a large cross-section of the country’s leadership, with ministers seen exchanging warm greetings, hearty laughter and animated conversations as they await proceedings to begin.
Among those spotted mingling freely were Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Dr Zhemu Soda, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi, ICT Minister Tatenda Mavetera, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona and Midlands Affairs and Devolution Minister Owen Ncube.
The event has also taken on a bipartisan feel, with opposition figures joining the gathering.
Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart and Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume are both present, underscoring the ceremony’s significance beyond political lines.
Adding to the spectacle, delegates have turned out in style, with both men and women dressed elegantly, giving the ceremony a distinctly colourful flair.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Republic Police Band is providing musical entertainment, filling the hall with lively melodies as dignitaries settle in.
Though grey clouds hang over the city of Harare, the weather has done little to dampen the upbeat mood at the venue, where anticipation continues to build ahead of the arrival of President Mnangagwa, who is expected to preside over the ceremony.
Performance contract signing and awards turn 6
The Performance Contract Signing and Awards Ceremony is now in its sixth year, a milestone that reflects Government’s ongoing drive to strengthen accountability and improve efficiency in the public sector.
Introduced by President Mnangagwa in 2021 as part of broader public sector reforms, the performance contracting framework was initially adopted for permanent secretaries before being expanded to include Cabinet Ministers and heads of State entities.
By publicly acknowledging high performers, the Government aims to cultivate a culture of excellence, professionalism and results-based management across the public sector.
Globally, performance contracting has been widely used as a governance tool to enhance transparency and efficiency in public institutions.
Zimbabwe’s adoption of the system reflects its commitment to aligning Government operations with modern management practices.
The programme is also closely linked to the country’s long-term development agenda, particularly the quest to achieve upper-middle-income status by 2030.
President Mnangagwa arrives for ceremony
President Mnangagwa has arrived for the Performance Contract Signing and Awards Ceremony currently underway here at HICC.
Following his arrival, the President briefly went into a closed-door briefing before proceeding to the main venue.
President Mnangagwa has now entered the auditorium where Cabinet ministers, senior Government officials and heads of public sector institutions have gathered for the event.
His arrival comes shortly after the arrival of Vice Presidents Dr Constantino Chiwenga and Dr Kembo Mohadi.
This marks the beginning of the official programme.
Performance Contract Signing places accountability at the centre of public sector performance: Dr Hungwe
The Performance Contract Signing and Awards system places accountability at the centre of public sector performance, Public Service Commission chairman Dr Vincent Hungwe has said.
Addressing delegates, Dr Hungwe said the ceremony symbolises more than a routine administrative exercise.
“Today this gathering is not merely a procedural event on the administrative calendar,” he said.”It is a moment of national significance.
“This tent is not simply a venue. It is a sanctuary of commitment, a theatre of accountability, and a celebration of patriotic duty.”
Dr Hungwe noted that the performance contract system introduced by President Mnangagwa in 2021 marked a decisive shift in public administration.
“We moved from a culture of business as usual to a culture where results are clearly defined, measured and accounted for,” he said.
“It placed accountability at the centre of public sector performance.”
Dr Hungwe said the system has transformed broad initiatives into measurable commitments while promoting purposeful execution across ministries and public institutions.
Reflecting on the framework’s journey, Dr Hungwe urged technocrats and policymakers to draw lessons from the experience and refine the system to improve effectiveness.
He also highlighted the importance of citizen feedback in evaluating public sector performance, noting that Government systems must ultimately translate into improved service delivery.
“If our systems are functioning as intended, citizens must feel the difference in the services they receive,” he said.
Dr Hungwe added that the ceremony also celebrates institutions and officials who excelled in their performance targets, saying their achievements demonstrate that the system delivers tangible results when embraced with discipline and commitment.
Top-performing Cabinet Minister — Barbara Rwodzi
Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry
Minister Barbara Rwodzi was named Top-performing Cabinet Minister in recognition of her dynamic leadership and the tangible revival of Zimbabwe’s tourism sector under her stewardship.
Over the past year Minister Rwodzi led a coordinated drive to rebuild tourist confidence, support hospitality businesses, and diversify the country’s tourism offerings beyond traditional attractions.
1st Runner-up — Dr Anxious Masuka
Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development
Dr Anxious Masuka earned the first runner-up award for driving practical reforms and programmes that bolstered food security, modernised land and water management, and supported rural livelihoods.
His work focused on ensuring that agricultural productivity rises while smallholder farmers gain better access to resources and markets.
2nd Runner-up — Ziyambi Ziyambi
Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs
Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi was awarded 2nd runner-up for his leadership in strengthening the legal and parliamentary framework, improving access to justice, and driving reforms to enhance judicial efficiency and legislative oversight.
Deputy Ministers honoured
Top performing Deputy Ministers – Vangelis Haritatos (Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development)
1st Runner up – Joshua Sacco (Transport and Infrastructural Development)
2nd Runner up – Norbert Mazungunye (Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs)
Most improved Ministries
Information and Communications Technology, Postal and Courier Services
Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage
Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Energy and Power Development
Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion
Youth Empowerment, Development, and Vocational Training
Defence
Permanent Secretaries receive awards
Top performing Permanent Secretaries – Professor Obert Jiri (Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development)
1st Runner up – Vimbai Nyemba (Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs)
2nd Runner up – Ambassador Albert Chimbindi (Foreign Affairs and International Trade)
Top performing Ministers of Provincial Affairs – Ezra Chadzamira (Masvingo)
1st Runner up – Advocate Misheck Mugadza (Manicaland)
2nd Runner up – Owen Ncube (Midlands)
Regulatory Public entities winner – Dr John Mushayavanhu (RBZ)
Runner up – Dr Gift Machengete (Potraz)
Contract signing entrenches performance-driven culture: VP Chiwenga
Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has said the Performance Contract Signing and Awards Ceremony reflects Government’s commitment to entrenching a results-oriented culture across the public sector.
Speaking at the ongoing event, the Vice President said the initiative promotes accountability, efficiency and service excellence in line with reforms under President Mnangagwa.
“The ceremony reflects Government’s firm commitment to entrenching a performance-driven culture anchored on accountability, efficiency, and service excellence,” he said.
Dr Chiwenga noted that the programme is aligned with governance and public sector reforms being championed by the President and supports national goals under the Second Republic.
He said strengthening service delivery systems require strategic investment in human capital.
“We must begin to identify and nurture talent from an early stage, guiding capable young Zimbabweans from our schools and universities towards careers in public service,” he said.
The Vice President also called for improved career progression frameworks within the civil service and urged universities and tertiary institutions to equip graduates with practical competencies relevant to national development.
“Stronger collaboration between academia, industry, and Government is essential to ensure that our education system is innovation-driven, practical, and responsive to the evolving needs of our economy and the public sector,” he said.
Performance contracts key to attainment of Vision 2030: President
President Mnangagwa has said the performance contracting and awards framework being implemented by Government will play a central role in driving the implementation of National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) and accelerating the attainment of Vision 2030.
Speaking at the ceremony today, the President said the initiative is key in ensuring that Government attains its goals.
“This ceremony reflects our unwavering commitment and resilience in delivering public services with efficiency as we march forward towards the realisation of Vision 2030.”
President Mnangagwa said the 2026 performance contracting cycle comes at a critical time as Zimbabwe begins implementing NDS2, the country’s five-year economic development blueprint.
“This year’s Performance Contract Signing Ceremony is of critical importance, coming against the commencement of the National Development Strategy 2 implementation period,” he said.
The President commended ministries, departments and agencies for aligning their strategic plans with NDS2, saying this would strengthen results-based governance.
