Barbara Rwodzi named Africa’s minister of the year in Kenya
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on 263Chat
Zimbabwean Tourism Minister Barbara Rwodzi was named African Minister of the Year 2026 at the Unstoppable African Awards in Nairobi. She highlighted Zimbabwe’s tourism diversification and said Victoria Falls received more than 1.2 million travellers in 2025, reports 263Chat.
Barbara Rwodzi, Zimbabwe’s Tourism Minister, was named African Minister of the Year 2026 at the first Unstoppable African Awards, held on Saturday in Nairobi, Kenya. The award was granted after a public vote conducted across Africa and internationally, according to 263Chat.
Kenya’s Minister for Public Service, Geoffrey Ruku, came first among the finalists, ahead of fellow Kenyan Beatrice Askul and Ugandan Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi. Winpeg Moyo, Zimbabwe’s ambassador to Kenya, received the trophy on Barbara Rwodzi’s behalf, in the presence of the Permanent Secretary for Tourism, Takaruza Munyanyiwa, and the chief executive of the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, George Manyaya.
Barbara Rwodzi described the award as recognition of Zimbabwe’s efforts to make tourism a driver of growth, investment and employment. She notably cited a development model organised into 13 clusters, intended to expand the offer beyond wildlife and natural sites to cultural heritage, religious tourism, sport and gastronomy. Victoria Falls received more than 1.2 million travellers in 2025, an increase of 7.8%, while the government reduced some tourism taxes and rolled out electronic visas and automated border controls, according to 263Chat.
The award comes after the publication on 22 October of an assessment putting the size of Zimbabwe’s economy at $65.9 billion, followed on 29 October by the announcement of a target of exchange-rate stability and inflation below 7% in Zimbabwe’s economic forecasts.
