His Highness Sheikh Mohammed emphasized that exceptional ministers are drivers of positive change
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, presented His Excellency Anxious Masuka, Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs of the Republic of Zimbabwe, with the Best Minister Award at the World Governments Summit 2025, a report from state media announced.
Inspiring record
His Excellency Anxious Masuka received the Best Minister Award for his transformative leadership in Zimbabwe’s agriculture sector. His achievements include achieving wheat self-sufficiency in 2022 with a record harvest, reducing import reliance for the first time in over two decades.
With a vision to boost maize production, expand irrigation, and implement climate-resilient farming, HE Masuka accelerated dam construction, launched large-scale irrigation rehabilitation, and established an e-agriculture college for accessible digital learning.
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His transparent and efficient governance, for which he was recognized as Zimbabwe’s Best Performing Minister in 2022 and 2023, has helped attract investment and contributed to the significant progress achieved through initiatives like the Agricultural Growth Program.
The Best Minister Award, organized by the WGS in partnership with PwC Middle East, honors government leaders whose innovative, scalable, and resilient policies drive meaningful social and economic progress.
The ceremony took place in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court; His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense; His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance; and Lieutenant General His Highness Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior.
Powerful message
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed emphasized that exceptional ministers are drivers of positive change, ensuring that every decision enhances the government’s performance.
He noted that ministers who prioritize their responsibility in serving people and fostering innovation are crucial to shaping the future. Celebrating these innovative leaders and showcasing their achievements and innovations, which ultimately improves lives, sends across a powerful message to governments worldwide: true success lies in tangible results that drive sustainable development and create a brighter future for all, he said.
HH Sheikh Mohammed emphasized: “Exceptional ministers don’t merely occupy positions; they lead transformative change. They turn every decision into a valuable contribution, every challenge into an opportunity, and every idea into a tangible reality that shapes history and the future.”
The eighth edition of the award highlights successful and scalable projects and initiatives that have demonstrated a positive impact on communities through resilience, preparedness, innovation, and future foresight, while maintaining good governance and transparency. It recognizes outstanding ministers who have led sustainable, high-impact initiatives that drive social and economic progress.
Rigorous assessment process
A rigorous assessment process to select the winner analyses achievements on the macro and micro levels, selecting countries that fall in the top four global macro and socio-economic aggregated indices, namely: Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index, the World Governance Indicators, Human Development Index, and the Happiness Index.
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