By Nigel Pfunde
HARARE – In a significant move to reinforce accountability and excellence within the public sector President Mnangagwa this week presided over the 2025 Performance Evaluation Results and the signing of the 2026 Performance Contracts for senior government officials.
The high-profile ceremony, held at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC) served as both a review of the previous year’s achievements and a formal commitment to the nation’s developmental goals for the coming year.
Speaking at the event, President Mnangagwa emphasized that the performance-based contracts are a cornerstone of his administration’s strategy to ensure that public servants remain responsive to the needs of the people.
The highlight of the ceremony was the conferment of awards to the top-performing Cabinet Ministers of 2025. These awards recognize individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and successfully implemented key projects aligned with the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).
Top-Performing Minister was Barbara Rwodzi Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry spearheaded a 10% growth in the tourism sector and significantly enhanced Zimbabwe’s international profile as a premier travel destination.
First runner-up was Anxious Masuka Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development.
He was honoured for his transformation of the agricultural sector, ensuring national food security and driving rural development initiatives.
Second runner up was Ziyambi Ziyambi Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs who was recognized for his role in legislative reforms and enhancing the efficiency of the justice delivery system.
During his keynote address, President Mnangagwa lauded the awardees for their dedication but reminded all public officials that the signing of performance contracts is not a mere formality.
“Today’s ceremony represents our collective obligation to ensure accountability, excellence, and results-oriented leadership. Every official has a duty to deliver on the promises made to the people of Zimbabwe,” the President stated.The President further noted that the performance evaluation system has become a vital tool for monitoring progress and identifying areas that require improvement. He urged all ministers and permanent secretaries to maintain the momentum and work tirelessly toward the realization of Vision 2030.
The 2026 Performance Contracts, signed by Cabinet Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, and heads of State-Owned Enterprises, outline specific targets and deliverables for the current fiscal year.
This initiative continues to be a central pillar of the Second Republic’s commitment to transforming the public service into a more efficient and citizen-centric institution.
The ceremony was attended by Vice Presidents, senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps and various stakeholders from the private and public sectors.
