Zimbabwe’s Finance Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube, has been voted the best African Finance Minister of the Year and named among 100 Most Reputable People at a global forum held in Westminster, England, on Monday.
The two-day event, organised by Reputation Poll International, brought together experts, policymakers, and business leaders from various sectors to discuss and share insights on reputation management, leadership, and innovation.
Prof Ncube received the award in recognition of his outstanding achievements in transforming Zimbabwe’s economy, which has been growing steadily despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, sanctions, and climate change.
He also delivered a keynote address and a paper at the forum, highlighting the economic reforms and policies that his ministry has implemented to stabilize the macroeconomic environment, increase domestic resource mobilization, and promote investment and trade.
Some of the notable measures that Prof Ncube has introduced include the introduction of a market-based foreign exchange auction system, the removal of quasi-fiscal operations by the central bank, the establishment of a sovereign wealth fund, and the launch of the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange.
According to the World Bank, Zimbabwe’s economy is projected to grow by 5.3% in 2023, up from 5.5% in 2022, making it one of the fastest growing economies in Sub-Saharan Africa. The country has also managed to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, with a relatively low number of cases and deaths, and a successful vaccination programme.
Prof Ncube expressed his gratitude for the award and dedicated it to his team at the Treasury, the government, and the people of Zimbabwe.
“This award is a recognition of all the work I and the Treasury team have put into implementing various economic policies and financial management that have spearheaded the transformation of the economy,” he said.
He also thanked the Reputation Poll International for organizing the forum and honoring him among other distinguished personalities from different fields and regions.
The Reputation Poll International is a leading global reputation management company that conducts research and surveys on the reputation and influence of individuals and organisations across various sectors.
The forum also featured other speakers and panelists, such as Lord John Waverly, a member of the House of Lords, Mr Pierre Montersino, a global transformational expert, and Mr Joe Gene Mulbah, the senior adviser on national infrastructural development to the President-Elect of Liberia.
Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Christian Katsande, also attended the event and congratulated Prof Ncube for his achievement. He urged Zimbabweans living in the UK and foreign investors to take advantage of the opportunities created by the economic reforms and policies of the government led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
“We have borne witness to the fruits of the engagement and re-engagement drive by the Second Republic and therefore encourage investors to take advantage of the unending investment opportunities unveiled by His Excellency President Mnangagwa’s mantra, ‘Zimbabwe is open for business’,” he said.
The award comes as a boost for Prof Ncube, who is expected to present the 2024 national budget proposal later this month, which is expected to consolidate the economic gains and address the social needs of the citizens.
Source: My Zimbabwe News
