Dr Eng Bezzel Chitsungo Recognised as Outstanding Seasoned Director for Advancing Irrigation and Climate Resilience in Zimbabwe
Dr Eng Bezzel Chitsungo’s recent accolade as Outstanding Seasoned Director of the Year at the Corporate Governance Captains Awards 2025 marks a significant milestone recognising his exemplary leadership qualities and unwavering commitment to transparency, accountability, and effective strategy implementation in Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector.
At the forefront of Zimbabwe’s water and agriculture nexus, Dr Chitsungo leads the Irrigation Development Department under the Water Resources Planning and Irrigation Development Directorate. His pioneering work directly addresses the critical challenge of decoupling the nation’s food security from the vagaries of unreliable rainfall — an existential threat exacerbated by climate change.
The tangible impact of his stewardship is evident: the area under irrigation has expanded from 171,000 hectares in 2020 to 224,000 hectares in 2025. This impressive growth reflects a 31% increase in irrigated land, a figure that embodies Zimbabwe’s monumental progress toward climate resilience and sustainable food and water security.
This progress is in close alignment with the country’s National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), which prioritises climate-smart agricultural practices alongside equitable socio-economic development. By enabling irrigation-based farming, the department contributes significantly to stabilising food production and income for farmers, particularly benefiting women, youth, and children.
FFA Explainer: The Irrigation Development Department specialises in enhancing irrigation infrastructure to allow continuous and reliable crop cultivation despite variable rainfall, a cornerstone for climate-resilient agriculture.
Across Zimbabwe, the expansion of irrigation has had transformative effects. In the Mashonaland East province, for example, small-scale farmers report increased crop yields and improved livelihoods thanks to greater irrigation access. Mrs Tariro Nkomo, a female farmer, shares, “With irrigation, we can farm year-round. This has improved our food security and the chance for our children to attend school.”
The Zimbabwe CEO’s Network, a respected institution promoting exemplary corporate governance and leadership, has acknowledged Dr Chitsungo’s remarkable contributions as a ‘‘seasoned leader’’ whose dedication yields substantial impact on national development goals.
Looking ahead, plans are underway to continue scaling up irrigation coverage beyond 250,000 hectares by 2030, incorporating innovative water-efficient technologies to boost productivity and sustainability. These endeavours dovetail with Zimbabwe’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
Moreover, the ongoing expansion supports socio-economic inclusion by empowering vulnerable groups through enhanced agricultural opportunities, thereby driving the socio-economic transformation envisaged in NDS1.
In conclusion, Dr Eng Bezzel Chitsungo’s award-winning leadership represents a beacon of progress and hope for Zimbabwe’s agricultural future. His visionary approach underpins a resilient, prosperous, and food-secure nation.
Congratulations to Dr Chitsungo on this well-deserved and inspiring honour!
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