Online Reporter
Sikhulekelani Moyo, [email protected]
ZIMBABWE has taken a decisive step towards accessing the European union honey market following the completion of a national training-of-trainers programme under the Zimbabwe Bee for Empowerment and Export (ZimBA-BEE) project.
About 16 Government officers drawn from the Department of Veterinary Services, the Forestry Commission and Agricultural Business Advisory Services have been certified in Codex Alimentarius food safety standards and EU Official Controls for honey export compliance.
The intensive, multi-province programme was funded by the Agence Française de Développement and implemented by ZimTrade in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development.
Technical facilitation was provided by the French Agricultural Research Institute (CIRAD) and the University of Zimbabwe.
Training has already been conducted in Mashonaland West and Manicaland provinces, with the final cohort scheduled to receive certificates on 21 May 2026 at Isango, Dete.
The programme was delivered in two streams.
Part A focused on Codex Alimentarius standards, covering food safety and hygiene for honey, maximum residue limits, good beekeeping practices and geo-referenced sample collection for national profiling.
Officers were also trained in training-of-trainers methodologies to support rollout at district level.
Part C concentrated on EU Official Controls and allowlisting requirements.
This component included the design of a National Residue Monitoring Plan, EU regulations 2017/625 and 2022/1644, forensic sampling techniques, laboratory standards for the Central Veterinary Laboratory, traceability using the TRACES-NT digital system, and physico-chemical profiling of 800 honey samples across 16 districts.
“Upon completion, these officers become the certified frontline of Zimbabwe’s honey export compliance infrastructure,” ZimTrade said.
The 21 May ceremony at Isango will mark the formal launch of the national cascade training to district level, beginning in Matabeleland North.
The rollout is expected to transfer skills to rural beekeeping communities while strengthening compliance across the entire honey value chain.
ZimTrade said the programme represents Zimbabwe’s most significant investment to date in human capital for honey export compliance and is a critical milestone towards meeting EU requirements for national allowlisting.
Zimbabwe has been working to diversify its agricultural exports under the EU–ESA Economic Partnership Agreement.
Honey has been identified as a high-potential product for smallholder farmers in Matabeleland North and other provinces.
The ZimBA-BEE project is funded by AFD and implemented by ZimTrade, the Department of Veterinary Services and CIRAD.
Sidumisile Mabena