Zimbabwe has joined the continental push to implement the Kampala Declaration, a new African Union agri-food transformation framework running to 2035, as authorities and industry players attempt to position agriculture at the centre of food security, industrial growth, and economic resilience.

The launch of Zimbabwe’s domestication process for the Kampala Declaration signals alignment with a broader continental strategy aimed at transforming Africa’s food systems through increased productivity, value addition, climate resilience, and market integration.

However, the move also comes as Zimbabwe continues grappling with structural agricultural weaknesses ranging from climate vulnerability and soil degradation to financing constraints and declining productivity in some farming areas.

The Horticulture Development Council said it was “honoured to be part of the launch of Zimbabwe’s domestication of the Kampala Declaration, Africa’s new agri-food transformation framework running through to 2035.”

The council added, “We look forward to contributing as Zimbabwe translates these commitments on food security into action.”

The remarks reflect growing emphasis on implementation rather than policy declarations alone, particularly in a sector where Zimbabwe has historically produced ambitious agricultural strategies that often struggled against financing gaps, infrastructure limitations, and climatic shocks.

The Kampala Declaration effectively succeeds earlier continental agricultural commitments under the Malabo Declaration framework, which many African countries, including Zimbabwe, struggled to fully meet. Key targets around agricultural financing, productivity growth, and food security delivery often fell behind projections across the continent.

For Zimbabwe, the domestication process comes at a sensitive moment for agriculture policy. While recent seasons have shown improvements in wheat production and selected export crops, broader food system vulnerabilities remain pronounced. Large sections of the farming sector remain dependent on rainfall, while input costs, energy shortages, and foreign currency pressures continue affecting viability.

The emphasis on agri-food transformation also reflects a wider shift away from viewing agriculture solely as primary production toward integrating processing, logistics, exports, and industrial value chains. Horticulture is increasingly seen as one of Zimbabwe’s potential high-value agricultural growth sectors due to export opportunities into regional and international markets.

However, scaling that potential requires addressing persistent structural bottlenecks, including cold-chain infrastructure deficits, high logistics costs, inconsistent electricity supply, and compliance challenges around international phytosanitary standards.

The framework’s focus on food security is particularly significant as climate risks intensify across southern Africa. Zimbabwe is already confronting warnings of a possible El Niño event during the 2026/27 rainy season, raising concerns over future rainfall performance and agricultural output. This places added pressure on long-term strategies around irrigation, climate-smart farming, and sustainable land management.

At the same time, the domestication of continental frameworks often raises implementation questions. Many agricultural commitments across Africa have struggled to move beyond policy alignment into measurable ground-level transformation due to weak institutional coordination and underfunding.