Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Misheck Rushwaya has called for strengthened coordination between central government and provincial authorities to accelerate agricultural development and support national economic growth.
Speaking at an interactive meeting held at Kutsaga Research Station in Harare on February 26, Rushwaya emphasized the importance of collaboration between Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs and the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development in implementing national development programmes.
The meeting brought together provincial leaders and government officials under the guidance of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister Anxious Jongwe Masuka to discuss strategies for strengthening agricultural performance in line with the country’s development agenda.
Rushwaya said the discussions were taking place at a critical time following the launch of the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) for the period 2026–2030 by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, describing the programme as a key step toward achieving Vision 2030.
He stressed that successful implementation of NDS2 requires accelerated implementation of the devolution and decentralisation agenda to ensure balanced economic growth across the country’s provinces.
Rushwaya noted that agriculture remains the backbone of provincial economies, with each province possessing unique advantages that should be harnessed for national development.
He said provincial leaders represent the Office of the President and Cabinet and are expected to provide strategic leadership while identifying investment opportunities and addressing challenges affecting communities.
According to Rushwaya, Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector has experienced significant growth between 2019 and 2025, with production value increasing from about US$5.2 billion to over US$10 billion. He attributed the growth to government policies that have promoted food self-sufficiency, increased cash crop production and expanded mechanisation.
However, he said maintaining these achievements will require addressing key challenges such as coordination gaps, delays in distribution of farming inputs and limited access to affordable agricultural financing.
Rushwaya urged provinces to hold regular development coordination meetings to improve planning and monitoring of projects.
He also emphasized the importance of deploying agricultural advisory officers to support farmers and promote modern farming techniques.
Other priorities highlighted included sustainable land management, resolution of land disputes, improved market access for agricultural products and expansion of value addition initiatives.
Rushwaya also called for increased investment in water infrastructure, including dams and irrigation systems, to mitigate the effects of climate change and support agricultural production.
He said the Office of the President and Cabinet expects the meeting to produce practical outcomes that will strengthen cooperation between national and provincial structures and contribute to sustainable economic development.
