Zimbabwe’s Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi has secured continental recognition after being named Unstoppable African Cabinet Minister of the Year 2026 at the inaugural Unstoppable African Awards held in Nairobi, Kenya, on Saturday.
The prestigious accolade, presented on October 31 at the Hilton Hotel during the launch of The Africa Agenda Forum (TAAF), recognises Minister Rwodzi’s contribution to tourism development and efforts to position Zimbabwe as a competitive international destination.
The award followed a continent-wide and global public voting process, with Kenya’s Minister for Public Service, Geoffrey Kiringa Ruku, emerging as first runner-up, while Kenya’s Minister for East African Affairs, Beatrice Askul, secured second runner-up. Uganda’s Minister for Local Government, Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi, was named third runner-up.
Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Kenya, Winpeg Moyo, received the award on behalf of Minister Rwodzi, accompanied by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Takaruza Munyanyiwa, and Zimbabwe Tourism Authority chief executive Dr George Manyaya.
In her acceptance speech, delivered by Ambassador Moyo, Minister Rwodzi described the honour as recognition of Zimbabwe’s collective efforts to establish tourism as a strategic driver of economic growth and national development.
She credited President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s leadership for placing tourism at the centre of the country’s economic transformation agenda under Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy.
The minister also acknowledged the contribution of First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, the Patron of the Tourism and Hospitality Industry, whose advocacy for Zimbabwe’s heritage, culture, wildlife and gastronomy continues to strengthen the country’s destination identity.
Minister Rwodzi highlighted Zimbabwe’s growing international profile, citing recognition by Forbes Magazine as the world’s number one must-visit destination for 2025, the Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA) Destination of the Year Award for Natural Wonders received at ITB Berlin in March 2025, and inclusion among Condé Nast Traveller’s Best Places to Visit in 2026.
She also outlined the country’s 13-cluster tourism development model, which seeks to broaden the sector beyond traditional wildlife and nature-based attractions by strengthening cultural and heritage, religious, sports, gastronomy and MICE tourism across all ten provinces.
The minister further pointed to Victoria Falls, which recorded more than 1.2 million travellers in 2025, representing a 7.8 percent increase, as evidence of renewed confidence in Zimbabwe’s tourism offering.
Beyond destination promotion, she highlighted reforms aimed at improving competitiveness, including reductions in selected tourism levies, the introduction of electronic visas and e-gates, and the decentralisation of the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo.
The recognition also comes after Minister Rwodzi was named Zimbabwe’s Overall Best Performing Cabinet Minister for 2025, becoming the first woman to receive the distinction since its inception.
She dedicated the continental award to the Government and people of Zimbabwe, President Mnangagwa, tourism sector workers and young African women pursuing leadership and transformation in their communities.
The minister also used the occasion to emphasise the importance of women’s representation in leadership and decision-making, calling for greater opportunities for African women to shape policies, lead institutions and contribute to the continent’s economic development.
She described the recognition as a responsibility to deliver more tangible results, rather than an endpoint in her leadership journey.
The award adds to Zimbabwe’s growing international tourism profile as the country advances its heritage-based tourism agenda and seeks to expand investment, employment creation and community participation in the sector.
