Online Reporter
Nduduzo Tshuma in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
ZIMBABWE’S agriculture transformation drive continues to earn global recognition, with the country appointed chair of the World Governing Council for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No. 2 — Zero Hunger — at the World Governments Summit (WGS) here.
The recognition comes after Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka was awarded Best Minister at last year’s summit in recognition of the country’s transformative leadership in the agriculture sector.
Following Zimbabwe’s latest recognition, Minister Masuka on Thursday addressed a meeting on the state of hunger on the continent and the progress that Zimbabwe has made in uplifting people out of hunger towards Vision 2030.
“Well, certainly you will recall that last year Zimbabwe was recognised, through me, as the best Minister in the world so it t has been a very eventful year. What they have requested is that I present an update of the achievements that we have made during the past year in which I was the best minister in the world,” said Dr Masuka in an interview.
“They have also elected Zimbabwe to become chairman of the World Governing Council Sustainable Development Goal No. 2, Zero Hunger.”
Dr Masuka said Zimbabwe was now strategically positioned to share its agricultural transformation model and rural development experiences with the rest of the world.
“So for Zimbabwe, we are in a very good position to share our experiences in agricultural transformation, in rural development, in rural industrialisation for the attainment of Vision 2030. Well, certainly we continue on the consolidation and expansion of the climate strategy at household level and at national level.
At household level, the Sustainable Intensive Conservation Agriculture Model Goal for Pfumvudza/Intwasa has now been expanded to cover 1 million hectares, which is a 48% increase on the 2024-2025 net trade.”
Dr Masuka said Zimbabwe’s agriculture sector had recorded significant growth across sub-sectors, underpinned by mechanisation and climate-resilient farming models.
“You’ve seen that tobacco production increased, record production, blueberry production, dairy production, livestock, all sectors of the economy have grown. The tractor fleet has grown to 60,000, a 266% increase since 2018. Every aspect of agriculture has grown in leaps and bounds, and this attests to the visionary leadership of His Excellency the President and also the all-of-government approach and indeed the all-of-sector approach in transforming agriculture household by household, village by village, chieftainship by chieftainship, leaving no one and no place behind.”
He said Zimbabwe’s agricultural gains were feeding into broader economic growth and global re-engagement.
“Certainly Zimbabwe now has rejoined the nations of the world. We are a friend to all and an enemy to none. Zimbabwe is open for business and under this visionary leader, we actually now have been recognised for the efforts that we are making,” said Dr Masuka.
“You know that in terms of the economic growth, Zimbabwe has been expected to grow by 6.6%, which is above the average in Southern Africa and has been nominated as one of the 10 fastest-growing economies. This is stellar performance, indicative again of a transformative leadership for the attainment of Vision 2030.”
