Zimbabwe’s tourism story is increasingly being written on the international stage, with Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi emerging as one of the country’s most visible champions of destination development, sector reform and global tourism promotion.
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Read E-PaperHer latest recognition has come in the form of a nomination for the Unstoppable Cabinet Minister of the Year 2026 Award, placing her among 10 ministers from across Africa competing for the continental honour.
The award recognises ministers whose leadership is associated with bold administrative reforms, transparent policy implementation and high-impact development initiatives delivering measurable results for their countries and communities.
With voting closing today, 5 October 2026, the nomination has turned the spotlight once again on Rwodzi’s record and given Zimbabweans and supporters of the country’s tourism agenda an opportunity to back the minister at the ballot.
The latest nomination is not an isolated accolade.
In March, minister Rwodzi was named Zimbabwe’s Overall Best Performing Cabinet Minister for 2025, after emerging ahead of other Cabinet ministers in the Government’s performance evaluation process. The recognition was based on the performance of ministers against targets under the country’s performance-contracting framework.
Her performance has also attracted continental recognition.At the 2026 Africa Tourism Leadership Awards in Polokwane, South Africa, Rwodzi won the Women in Leadership Award, while Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry received Bronze in the Leading in Progressive Policy Award category. The minister’s award recognised her contribution to advancing Zimbabwe’s tourism agenda and the role of women in shaping the continent’s tourism sector.
Earlier in the year, she was also named Tourism Minister of the Year Africa at the PATWA Awards held during ITB Berlin 2026, while Zimbabwe was named Destination of the Year Natural Wonders.
The honours have come against a backdrop of an increasingly ambitious tourism strategy centred on heritage-based tourism, product diversification, investment, destination marketing and greater community participation.
Under Rwodzi’s leadership, the Ministry has championed the 13-cluster tourism diversification model, intended to broaden Zimbabwe’s tourism offering beyond its traditional wildlife and waterfall attractions.
The approach places greater emphasis on the country’s cultural heritage, gastronomy, adventure, business tourism and other experiences capable of spreading tourism benefits across different communities and regions. The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority has specifically credited Rwodzi with advancing community-based tourism and the diversification model.
Her international engagements have also sought to strengthen Zimbabwe’s position in key tourism markets.
At ITB Berlin 2026, Rwodzi led engagements around the Experience Zimbabwe brand, cultural and heritage tourism, international marketing and expanding Zimbabwe’s visibility in European markets.
She has also been involved in high-level discussions on improving air connectivity, including engagements with Emirates leadership around prospects for a direct Dubai–Victoria Falls route and the positioning of Victoria Falls International Airport as a regional hub.
Zimbabwe subsequently hosted the 23rd UN Tourism Summit in Victoria Falls, placing one of the country’s flagship destinations at the centre of global tourism discussions on sustainability, resilience and inclusive tourism development.
The performance of the tourism sector has provided another measure of the momentum behind the ministry’s agenda.
Zimbabwe recorded an 11 percent increase in international tourist arrivals during the first quarter of 2026, rising from 347,555 in the comparable 2025 period to 384,561. Tourism receipts increased by 14 percent to US$251 million, according to figures reported by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority.
The country has also benefited from heightened international visibility, including recognition as a leading destination and the continued promotion of its natural, cultural and heritage assets.
For Rwodzi, the challenge is now to convert international recognition into sustained investment, increased visitor numbers, jobs and tangible benefits for communities dependent on the tourism economy.
Her nomination for the Unstoppable Cabinet Minister of the Year 2026 therefore arrives at a significant moment.
For all her supporters, the vote represents more than an individual award. It is an opportunity to endorse the work being done to position Zimbabwe as a competitive tourism destination and to give international recognition to the country’s tourism leadership.
Today, 5 October 2026, is the final day for voting. Zimbabweans and supporters of the country’s tourism sector are being urged to make their voices heard and vote for Minister Barbara Rwodzi before the voting window closes.
AFRICA IS WATCHING. ZIMBABWE IS REPRESENTED.Vote for Hon Barbara Rwodzi.Make your vote count. Stand with Zimbabwe. 🔗 VOTE NOW
https://unstoppableafricanawards.com/#vote/the-unstoppable-cabinet-minister-of-the-year
