Ramaphosa lauds Zimbabwe's agricultural transformation

Zimbabwe's agricultural sector has earned high praise from South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who said his country could learn valuable lessons from the nation's advances. President Ramaphosa visited Zimbabwe to officially open the 115th Zimbabwe Agricultural Show (ZAS), highlighting the impressive strides made under the Second Republic in empowering rural farmers and driving agricultural industrialisation.

During a guided tour of the exhibition stands, led by Zimbabwe's Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr Anxious Masuka, both Presidents engaged with exhibitors and observed innovations across the sector. Speaking to the media after the tour, President Ramaphosa expressed his admiration for Zimbabwe's focus on agriculture and the empowerment of rural communities.

"Zimbabwe has been able to focus on agriculture in a superlative way, in terms of empowering rural farmers and industrialisation out of agriculture. I leave Zimbabwe having learned a great deal about agriculture, the type of learning that we can copy in South Africa," he said.

The South African leader singled out the capacitation of agricultural extension workers as a key factor in Zimbabwe's agricultural success. President Mnangagwa has consistently emphasised the importance of training extension officers, noting that their continuous development boosts production and productivity across the country.

"Nearly everything that I have seen, up to now, to have employed and brought in 6,000 agricultural extension officers, is a phenomenal achievement. And to have them servicing all the villages is actually a great boost to agriculture and agricultural production," President Ramaphosa said, noting that he regretted not attending earlier editions of the show.

President Ramaphosa expressed his gratitude to President Mnangagwa, referring to him as his "elder brother," for the invitation to officiate at the event. Previous South African leaders to officiate at ZAS include former Presidents Jacob Zuma and the late Nelson Mandela.

The ZAS has grown in prominence as a key SADC agribusiness forum, attracting participants from across the region and beyond. This year's edition drew delegates and exhibitors from South Africa, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Ghana, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palau, and China, reflecting Zimbabwe's growing influence in regional agricultural development.

President Mnangagwa shared a lighter moment with the media during the event, joking about President Ramaphosa handling media duties, a comment that drew laughter from both leaders. The interaction highlighted the camaraderie between the two Presidents and underscored the spirit of regional cooperation in advancing agriculture.

Overall, President Ramaphosa's participation at ZAS underscored the increasing appeal of Zimbabwe's agricultural show as a platform for knowledge exchange, regional collaboration, and showcasing innovations that drive the sector's growth.