Rwodzi nominated for Unstoppable African Awards 202

Zimbabwe’s Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Barbara Rwodzi, has reportedly been nominated for the Unstoppable Cabinet Minister of the Year category at the inaugural Unstoppable Africa Awards 2026, placing the Zimbabwean minister among public figures being considered for recognition at a new pan-African awards platform.

The Unstoppable Africa Awards (TUAA) are scheduled to make their debut in Nairobi, Kenya, on 31 October 2026. The awards cover governance, business, innovation, media, arts, sport and community development, with the organisers saying the platform is intended to recognise Africans whose work has produced tangible impact. The Cabinet Minister category is one of 21 categories announced for the inaugural awards.

The nomination comes after a year in which Rwodzi has received several national and international recognitions linked to her work in the tourism sector.

In March 2026, Rwodzi was recognised as Zimbabwe’s Overall Best Performing Cabinet Minister for 2025 at the Government’s Performance Contracts Signing and Awards Ceremony.

The Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry and the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority subsequently described the award as a milestone, noting that Rwodzi was the first woman Cabinet Minister to receive the overall award since the introduction of the Performance Contracting framework in 2021.

She was also named Tourism Minister of the Year – Africa at the 2026 Pacific Area Travel Writers Association awards held alongside ITB Berlin. PATWA’s published winners list confirms Rwodzi as the recipient in the African tourism minister category.

Zimbabwe itself received the Destination of the Year – Natural Wonders award at the same event.

Official Treasury figures show that Zimbabwe recorded 1,777,569 international tourist arrivals in 2025, up from 1,613,901 in 2024, representing a 10 percent increase.

Fourth-quarter arrivals reached 463,815, compared with 411,496 during the same period in 2024. Treasury attributed the wider tourism-sector recovery to factors including improved air connectivity and investment in hospitality.

The Government has also reported tourism receipts of about US$1.3 billion in 2025.

Zimbabwe’s tourism marketing drive has also been reflected in the 19th edition of the Sanganai/Hlanganani/Dzimbahwe Tourism Expo, held in Masvingo from 9 to 12 September 2026.

Government figures released ahead of the event showed 133 international buyers, up from 89 at the previous edition — a 49.4 percent increase. Exhibitor registrations reached 392, compared with 343 the previous year, representing a 14.3 percent increase.

The expo was positioned as part of Zimbabwe’s broader effort to strengthen heritage tourism, investment, business tourism and opportunities for local tourism operators.

Rwodzi was also appointed one of the Vice-Presidents of the United Nations Tourism General Assembly, representing the Regional Commission for Africa alongside Nigeria, during the 26th session of the General Assembly in Saudi Arabia in November 2025.

Zimbabwe had earlier been elected to the UN Tourism Council for the 2025–2029 period.

The Minister has been involved in regulatory reforms aimed at modernising Zimbabwe’s tourism framework.

The Tourism Amendment Bill passed through Parliament in 2026 and, according to reports, was awaiting presidential assent in June. Among other provisions, the Bill seeks to establish a standalone Tourism Fund intended to support tourism marketing, infrastructure development and the sector’s broader growth towards a US$5 billion industry.

The Ministry has also promoted tourism diversification through its 13-cluster tourism model, including gastronomy tourism and community-based tourism initiatives.

The inaugural Unstoppable Africa Awards will be held at the Hilton Hotel in Nairobi on 31 October 2026.

The organisers say the awards are intended to recognise individuals and institutions across Africa whose work demonstrates measurable impact. Public voting was announced as part of the awards process, following the publication of the shortlisted nominees.