Mhiko makes history with third straight Presidential top CEO award

Mhiko makes STAFF WRITER

Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) chief executive officer, Tinotenda Mhiko, has etched his name into Zimbabwe’s corporate history after securing an unprecedented third consecutive Overall Best Performer accolade for CEOs of Commercial State-Owned Enterprises.

The landmark recognition, conferred by President Emmerson Mnangagwa at the Harare International Conference Centre last week, cements Mhiko’s position as one of the country’s most impactful public sector executives, following a sweeping turnaround of ARDA from a dormant, loss-making entity into a commercially driven agricultural powerhouse.

Once largely defined by idle estates and a passive land-leasing model, ARDA has, under Mhiko’s stewardship, undergone a structural transformation into a fully-fledged commercial farming operation and a strategic anchor for agro-industrial development. The shift has seen the authority move decisively into active production, establishing high-output zones across ARDA estates, irrigation scheme business units, A1 and A2 joint ventures, as well as clustered smallholder farming models.

This repositioning aligns with Zimbabwe’s broader rural industrialisation thrust, placing ARDA at the centre of efforts to integrate agriculture with value chains and downstream processing.

During the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) period, ARDA registered exponential growth, with crop output surging by an extraordinary 9,145%—from 5,136 metric tonnes in the 2019/20 season to 474,775 metric tonnes in the 2024/25 season. The sharp increase underscores a deliberate pivot toward productivity, efficiency and scale.

Mhiko has also played a pivotal role in implementing the Government’s wheat-based food security strategy, a cornerstone policy aimed at reducing import dependence and stabilising domestic supply. Despite the 2023/24 agricultural season being battered by the worst drought since independence, ARDA accounted for 68.2% of national wheat requirements and contributed 44% to the country’s total wheat output of 563,961 metric tonnes in 2024.

In response to the drought-induced food crisis, ARDA facilitated the distribution of 185,132 metric tonnes of grain between February and October 2024 under social welfare programmes, reinforcing its role not just as a commercial entity, but as a critical instrument of national food security.

The authority has also emerged as a key implementer of the V30 Accelerator Model, an initiative launched by President Mnangagwa to drive rural incomes and productivity. Business units in areas such as Bubi-Lupane, Chivhu and Mangwe have recorded notable success, with some generating in excess of US$4,000 per household annually since 2021—effectively transitioning farmers from subsistence to commercially oriented operations.

Beyond primary production, Mhiko has overseen significant strides in agro-processing and seed security. ARDA Seeds (Pvt) Limited was restructured and repositioned to focus on climate-smart seed production, resulting in an 819.6% increase in seed output during the NDS1 period, before its eventual transfer to the Mutapa Investment Fund.

In a further push toward value addition, ARDA revived its long-idle tomato paste and fruit pulp processing plant, restoring operations after five years of inactivity. The facility now processes up to 100,000 kilogrammes of tomatoes or bulk fruit per day, creating a reliable off-take market for approximately 1,000 village business units across Zimbabwe’s eight agricultural provinces.

Technological innovation has also been central to Mhiko’s strategy. The introduction of artificial intelligence-driven forecasting systems and drone technology has enhanced precision agriculture, improved yields and strengthened operational efficiency. Internally, the ARDA brand and governance framework have been overhauled, addressing longstanding institutional weaknesses and embedding a performance-driven culture.

The third consecutive presidential award is widely viewed as a validation of these reforms, highlighting sustained execution, strategic clarity and measurable impact.

On the continental stage, Mhiko’s work has also drawn recognition. He was named a winner of the 2024 Africa Food Prize—one of the continent’s most prestigious honours in agriculture—prevailing over nominees from more than 54 countries. The award’s secretariat is chaired by former Tanzanian president Jakaya Kikwete.

His accolades extend to the Distinguished Euro Knowledge Award for Agricultural Development and Rural Transformation, presented at the British House of Lords in London, further underscoring the international resonance of ARDA’s transformation model.

Mhiko has also been invited by the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization to speak at the World Food Forum’s Science and Innovation Forum in Rome, where he joined global thought leaders in addressing pressing agricultural challenges and advancing scalable solutions for food security.

The recognition signals not only personal achievement but also growing acknowledgment of Zimbabwe’s evolving agricultural framework, anchored on innovation, scale and commercial viability.