Online Reporter
Theseus Mauruki Shambare in BULAWAYO
ZIMBABWE is well positioned to meet its domestic food needs and potentially generate exportable surplus, provided investments in innovation, partnerships and resilient food systems are sustained.
This was the message from the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) after clinching first prize in the non-profit organisations category at the just-ended66th Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), ahead of UN Zimbabwe and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The win follows WFP’s leadership of the high-impact Zero Hunger Pavilion, one of the standout features of this year’s fair, which brought together Government ministries, private sector players, research institutions, financial service providers and development partners to showcase practical, scalable solutions to food insecurity.
Speaking after receiving the award, WFP Zimbabwe country director Barbara Clemens said the recognition underscores both Zimbabwe’s potential and the urgency of accelerating food systems transformation under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2).
“Zimbabwe holds strong potential not only to meet its own food needs but to contribute beyond its borders.
“Platforms such as these create valuable opportunities to exchange knowledge, forge partnerships, and accelerate progress.”
Ms Clemens said the award recognised collective efforts to promote the four key dimensions of food security — availability, accessibility, utilisation and stability.
“Our objective has been to convene partners across the food systems spectrum and demonstrate how the four dimensions of food security must work in concert to deliver sustainable outcomes,” she said.
The WFP-led pavilion drew steady traffic throughout the week, with exhibitors showcasing climate-smart farming technologies, digital finance solutions, nutrition products, mechanisation tools and post-harvest systems aimed at strengthening Zimbabwe’s agricultural value chains.
The accolade comes as Zimbabwe intensifies efforts to strengthen food and nutrition security after successive seasons marked by erratic rainfall patterns and climate shocks in some parts of the country.
The Government has also prioritised agricultural transformation, irrigation expansion, increased productivity and value addition under NDS2, which runs from 2026 to 2030.
Ms Clemens said research, innovation and evidence-based approaches would remain central to building resilient food systems capable of withstanding future shocks.
Commending the partnership between Government and development agencies, Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training Tino Machakaire said the recognition for WFP reflected the value of collaboration in strengthening Zimbabwe’s resilience, while urging greater youth participation in agriculture, innovation and climate adaptation.
