Source: Minister Rwodzi comes out tops – herald
Wallace Ruzvidzo-Zimpapers Reporter
TOURISM and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi emerged the top-performing Minister in President Mnangagwa’s 2025 Cabinet.
This comes as her exceptional contributions have been instrumental in driving advancements within the tourism sector, earning her recognition for her outstanding achievements in fostering growth and development in this vital industry.
The tourism sector is positioning itself as Zimbabwe’s third biggest foreign currency earner and has attracted two key international awards, both of which place Zimbabwe firmly on the global tourism map.
Yesterday, President Mnangagwa acknowledged the remarkable accomplishments of Zimbabwe’s top Government officials by honouring ministers, permanent secretaries and heads of various Government departments for their exemplary service at a ceremony in Harare.
This ongoing performance evaluation underscores the Second Republic’s dedication to cultivating a culture of excellence, a strong work ethic and servant leadership, all of which align with the nation’s Vision 2030.
The accountability framework was introduced by President Mnangagwa in 2021.
President Mnangagwa hands over the 1st Runner-Up award to Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka in Harare yesterday.
Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka was first runner up best performing minister and Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi was second runner up.
The top performing Deputy Minister was Vangelis Haritatos (Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development), first Runner up — Joshua Sacco (Transport and Infrastructural Development) and second runner up — Norbert Mazungunye (Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs).
The top performing Permanent Secretary was Obert Jiri (Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development), first Runner up — Vimbai Nyemba (Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs)and second runner up — Ambassador Albert Chimbindi (Foreign Affairs and International Trade).
The top performing Ministers of Provincial Affairs were Ezra Chadzamira (Masvingo), first runner-up — Advocate Misheck Mugadza (Manicaland) and second runner-up — Owen Ncube (Midlands).
The ministries of Information and Communications Technology, Postal and Courier Services, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Energy and Power Development, Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training and Defence were named as the most improved ministries.
The President congratulates 2nd Runner-Up, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, at the colourful event in Harare yesterday.
In the Secretaries for Provincial Affairs and Devolution category, Dr Addmore Pazvakavambwa (Masvingo Province) was the overall winner, while Dr Edgar Seenza (Midlands Province) was the first runner-up and Mr Abiot Maronge (Manicaland Province) was the second runner-up.
In the Independent Commissions category, Commissioner Tendai Bare (Zimbabwe Land Commission) was the top performer, while Justice Priscilla Chigumba (Zimbabwe Electoral Commission) was the first runner-up.
Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) Dr Martin Rushwaya, said performance was assessed using a rating scale ranging from one to six, with six representing performance that clearly exceeds targets beyond standard variance, while one indicates failure to accomplish agreed outcomes.
The evaluation process was conducted by an independent consultant who carried out quarterly performance reviews throughout 2025 and produced sectoral assessments before submitting a consolidated national report to the Government.
According to the results, 25 Cabinet ministers were evaluated, with 20 meeting set targets and five falling below targets.
Their average score stood at 4.16, a slight improvement from 4.15 recorded in 2024.
The President poses with top performing Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Ezra Chadzamira (Masvingo).
Among permanent secretaries, 16 out of 25 met targets while nine were below targets within variance, with the average score remaining unchanged at 4.04.
For deputy ministers, 16 of the 26 evaluated met set targets while 10 were below targets within variance, with an average score of 4.05.
Provincial ministers also recorded improvement, with five of the 10 evaluated meeting targets and five falling below targets within variance.
Their average score rose to 4.15 from 4.02 in 2024.
Secretaries also registered progress, with four meeting targets and six below targets within variance, while their average score improved to 4.02 from 3.82 in the previous year.
State universities emerged as the strongest performing institutions.
Twelve vice chancellors met their targets while one fell below targets within variance, producing an average score of 4.42.
Council chairpersons for universities also performed strongly, with 11 meeting targets and one below targets within variance for an average score of 4.25.
In State-owned enterprises, 120 chief executive officers were evaluated.
Top performing Deputy Minister Vangelis Haritatos (Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development) receives his award from the President
Seventy-two, representing 66 percent, met their targets, while 35 were below targets within variance and 13 fell below acceptable variance.
The average score was 3.96, a marginal improvement from 3.95 in 2024.
Among board chairpersons of state enterprises, 107 were evaluated.
Fifty-seven met their targets, while others were below targets within or outside acceptable variance, producing an average score of 3.88, slightly higher than the 3.85 recorded the previous year.
Independent commissions recorded mixed results.
Of the seven executive secretaries evaluated, three met targets, three were below targets within variance and one fell below acceptable variance, with an average score of 3.75, down from 3.89 in 2024.
Local authorities remained the weakest performing sector.
President Mnangagwa hands over a shield to top performing Permanent Secretary Professor Obert Jiri (Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development) yesterday.
For rural district councils, only 23 percent of chief executive officers met targets, while the majority were below targets within variance, resulting in an average rating of 3.66, down from 3.74 in 2024.
Urban and rural authorities also struggled, with only 22 percent meeting targets and an average score of 3.52 compared to 3.55 in 2024.
Dr Rushwaya said the performance contracting framework continues to strengthen leadership accountability across Government while driving improvements in public sector performance.
In an interview, Minister Rwodzi said she was elated.
“(I am)Very happy, of course. And let me say, I thank His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, and of course, my patron for tourism, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa. I owe this to her because of all the strategies and the guidance that she gives us,” said the Tourism Minister.
Minister Chadzamira described his award as a win for the entire Masvingo Province.
“It was a collective effort and we are dedicating this award to the whole province, especially the leadership, which is showing a collective effort when it comes to the development of projects.
“So, we want to say to Masvingo Province, let’s continue raising the flag regarding the development of our province,” he said.
The President engages with the Overall Best Performer for CEOs of Commercial State-Owned Enterprises Category – President’s Award for Performance Excellence, Arda chief executive Mr Tino Mhiko, during the awards ceremony yesterday. Mr Mhiko has won the award for the 3rd consecutive time.
Agricultural and Rural Development Authority of Zimbabwe (ARDA), chief executive officer Mr Tinotenda Mhiko, who won first place in the commercial public entities category for the third time in a row, said he was grateful for the due recognition.
“It’s a great honour to receive this award for the third time in a row, and undeniably I’m so overwhelmed and grateful to be recognised in this manner.
“Indeed, this last year has been so eventful and we achieved some remarkable milestones, building on the achievements of the previous years.
“Inevitably, this award gives me, individually and my entire team at ARDA as a collective, huge impetus to keep putting shoulder to the wheel as we strive to achieve our mandate in line with the Agriculture, Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy 2 , Rural Development 8.0 and NDS2 Blueprints,” he said.
Public Service Commission Chairman Dr Vincent Hungwe said the performance contracts system, introduced by the President, was a bold and transformative step in the evolution of public administration.
“It was a decisive move away from the culture of business as usual towards a culture where results are clearly defined, they are clearly measured, and accounted for,” he said.
“It placed accountability at the centre of public sector performance.”
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