Zimbabwe’s Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi was the star of the Performance-based Contracts Signing and Awards Ceremony 2026 after she was awarded as the Overall Best Performing Cabinet Minister for 2025.
The award emanates from the performance-based contracts that public officials in Zimbabwe sign on a yearly basis. The contracts were introduced by the Second Republic under President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
This Overall Best Performing Cabinet Minister award, won by Minister Rwodzi, celebrates exceptional leadership and measurable achievements across government ministries and state enterprises.
Rwodzi’s recognition comes on the back of Zimbabwe’s growing global tourism appeal, which saw the country being ranked number one on Forbes Magazine’s list of must-visit destinations in 2025.
Earlier this year (2026), Zimbabwe won the Destination of the Year – Natural Wonders award at the prestigious ITB Berlin 2026, which is held in Germany.
Minister Rwodzi was also named Tourism Minister of the Year – Africa 2025 by the Pacific Area Travel Writers Association for her outstanding contribution to advancing tourism across the continent.
Tourism is one of the key economic pillars for the Second Republic together with agriculture and mining. Already tourism has shown signs that it can do more for the country’s images through hosting of various international exhibitions and conferences.
Chief among the low hanging fruits in the tourism sector is the Meeting Incentives Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) where the country has huge potential.
Zimbabwe is already in the process of enacting a law that will enable the hosting of the Intra-Africa Trade Fair and also operationalise the Intra-Africa Trade Fair Company that will be headquartered in the country.
This development will result in Zimbabwe hosting the Intra-Africa Trade Fair on a yearly basis.
The Intra-Africa Trade Fair, brings together buyers, sellers, investors, manufacturers, service providers and governments under one roof to facilitate business-to-business and business-to government engagements, showcase African products and services and deepen intra-African market linkages.
Since its inception, the IATF has grown into Africa’s premier trade and investment marketplace. The 2018 edition in Cairo, Egypt, attracted over 1000 exhibitors and generated trade and investment deals valued at more than USD32 billion.
The 2021 edition held in Durban, South Africa, welcomed over 1100 exhibitors from 59 countries and recorded deals worth approximately USD42 million.
The 2023 edition, again in Cairo, hosted 1600 exhibitors and achieved commitments exceeding USD43 billion.
