The Plant Quarantine Services Institute (PQSI) of Zimbabwe and other national stakeholders, including the Ministry of Agriculture, farmer organizations, and representatives of the national customs office, have embarked onthe development of a National Phytosanitary Capacity Development Strategy to guide PQSI in its work of improving national phytosanitary systems in the next 5-10 years. The plan for a national plant health strategy and legislation to guide phytosanitary work were some of the key recommendations made at a workshop held from 12 - 16 February 2024 at Rainbow Towers Hotel in Harare, to officially close a project through which PQSI carried out an extensive assessment of Zimbabwe’s phytosanitary system.

The project, entitled “Strengthening of Capacities and Governance in Food and Phytosanitary Control”, was implemented by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Secretariat, to support national plant protection organizations (NPPOs) within the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) to carry out a Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation (PCE) to improve technical capabilities, governance and strategic planning for food safety and plant health. The project is funded by the European Union. The project has so far assisted nine African countries to conduct PCEs and make progress towards fulfilling their international obligations to protect plant resources from pests. Countries also received support to develop strategic plans to strengthen phytosanitary trade regulatory systems and their national phytosanitary networks.

Zimbabwe concluded its 11-month PCE and validated the results during the February workshop. This was the last of three workshops- the first two workshops held in May and June 2023, during which national stakeholders, including senior government officials, discussed the results. They also discussed key elements of the strategic plan.

“Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation (PCE) helped my ministry and ultimately, my country by identifying both strengths and weaknesses in phytosanitary systems and we have developed a national phytosanitary capacity building strategy with prioritization of actions for correction of gaps.  The addressing of these gaps will strengthen the national phytosanitary systems of this country. The implementation of the strategy developed here shall enhance the capacities of Zimbabwe Plant Quarantine and Phytosanitary Services, to strengthen facilitation of market access of plants, plant products and regulated articles; and enhance Food Security through the reduction of crop losses due to ingress of exotic pests,” said the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development.

A new plan

The new national phytosanitary strategy will address gaps and guide the country’s capacity development needs. PQSI, which is the NPPO of Zimbabwe, will review its organizational structure to ensure adequate and correct staffing. The NPPO also plans to build laboratories, acquire materials and tools, and increase training opportunities for its staff. The NPPO can also use the outcomes of the PCE to mobilize resources to implement elements of the phytosanitary strategic plan. “I commend Zimbabwe on successfully concluding its PCE and taking prompt action to develop a plan to improve its national plant health systems,” said Osama El-Lissy, IPPC Secretary. “Evaluating phytosanitary capacity is essential for countries to be able to adopt and implement the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) which provide the foundation for safeguarding agricultural production and natural resource against plants pests and facilitate the safe trade in plants and plant products,” he added.

About the PCE and COMESA project

The PCE is an online-enabled, multiple-step framework that countries use to assess the suitability of their national phytosanitary systems and capacity, including laboratories, quarantine centers, and data storage systems, to meet global phytosanitary requirements. During a PCE, NPPOs lead the entire process, with the support of IPPC-certified phytosanitary capacity evaluation facilitators. This ensures that PCE outcomes and recommendations are unique and relatable to each country and its intentions to improve national-level phytosanitary capacity.

The COMESA project, co-signed by the Government of Zimbabwe, falls within the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Policy Framework for Africa, developed by the African Union (AU). The framework aims to spur trade among AU member states and is being implemented in close collaboration with the African Commission Division for Rural Economy and Agriculture.

“It is crucial that the government of Zimbabwe works together with the development partners to mobilize financial resources for the implementation of the plan. Great work has been achieved up to this point thanks to a significant number of people in this room and beyond. It is important to sustain it as we move forward. I am proud to say that FAO is a leading organization globally and in Zimbabwe overseeing all aspects of the food chain, thereby providing a unique 360° vision on food safety. FAO is promoting food safety and plant health through the FAO strategic framework, which is summarized by the 4 Betters,” said Berhanu Bedane on behalf of the Subregional Coordinator for Southern Africa and FAO Representative in Zimbabwe, Patrice Talla.