Minister Rwodzi Crowned Africa’s Tourism Minister of the Year

Zimbabwe’s tourism sector has earned continental recognition following the crowning of Barbara Rwodzi as Tourism Minister of the Year—Africa at the prestigious PATWA Awards.

The award celebrates Minister Rwodzi’s transformative leadership, bold innovation, and inclusive approach to tourism development. Under her stewardship, Zimbabwe has repositioned tourism as a people-driven sector that delivers real economic benefits to communities across the country.

One of her landmark achievements was steering Zimbabwe to host the inaugural UN Tourism Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism. The event sparked nationwide community competitions that promoted local cuisine while empowering women, youth, and persons with disabilities to participate meaningfully in the tourism value chain.

Minister Rwodzi also introduced a 12-cluster tourism diversification model aimed at broadening Zimbabwe’s tourism offering beyond traditional attractions. The model expands into areas such as gastronomy, medical tourism, and cultural tourism, in line with Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 agenda of achieving an upper middle-income economy.

Her leadership has further been marked by a strong commitment to heritage preservation and decentralisation. Tourism expos and promotional activities have been taken to different provinces, ensuring that all regions and communities benefit from tourism growth.

On the global stage, Minister Rwodzi has actively promoted Zimbabwe as a prime destination, increasing the country’s visibility at major international tourism platforms and strengthening investor and visitor confidence.

The recognition by PATWA underscores Minister Rwodzi’s impact not only in Zimbabwe but across Africa. Her inclusive, innovative, and community-focused approach continues to position tourism as a powerful driver of sustainable development and shared prosperity nationwide.