Story by Memory Chamisa
ZIMBABWE’S participation at the 2025 edition of the Global Leadership Forum in South Korea has highlighted the solid bilateral relations between the two countries, particularly in promoting rural development.
With over 70 Ministers from across the globe in attendance, Zimbabwe is being represented by the Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa.
The Forum, which runs from the 16th to the 19th of this month, provides a platform for governments to learn from South Korea’s successful rural industrialisation programmes.
Zimbabwe has already recorded notable progress through initiatives such as the Mafura processing plant in Mwenezi and the tomato processing plant in Mutoko, among others.
Senator Mutsvangwa underscored the Government’s commitment to uplifting rural communities through transformative projects under the Second Republic.
“The engagement of Zimbabwe by the Saemaul Undong Centre and the South Korean Government is greatly appreciated, as it reflects the Republic of Korea’s commitment to supporting rural development efforts in Zimbabwe. We look forward to the implementation of the five-year pilot programme starting in 2026, which will give further impetus to the realisation of Vision 2030,” said Senator Mutsvangwa.
She further highlighted that Zimbabwe remains focused on accelerating rural development to improve the living standards of the 61.4 percent of the population based in rural areas.
Key policies include, The Zimbabwe V30 Accelerator Model, a strategy for agricultural transformation, and rural industrialisation centred on commercial business models in irrigation schemes under ARDA.
The Presidential Borehole Drilling Scheme, which is rolling out 35 000 solar-powered boreholes nationwide, one for each village, to provide clean water and establish community gardens.
This year’s Forum also emphasises the importance of home-grown development solutions, particularly as many countries adjust to declining global aid.
For Zimbabwe, the message is clear: tapping into both domestic and foreign capital to accelerate rural transformation remains at the heart of its development agenda.
