By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa has handed Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi a brand-new Ford Ranger Raptor, raising questions about the priorities of a government whose ordinary citizens continue to face mounting economic hardships.

Mnangagwa presented the vehicle to Rwodzi at State House on Friday evening after she was recognised as the 2026 Unstoppable African Cabinet Minister of the Year at an awards ceremony recently held in Nairobi, Kenya.

The development has placed the spotlight on the culture of rewarding senior government officials with expensive gifts, with the President using the occasion to honour the minister for her international recognition.

Rwodzi expressed gratitude to Mnangagwa, saying she had “thanked President Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa for gifting her a Ford Ranger Raptor.”

The vehicle was reportedly presented as “a token of appreciation for flying the Zimbabwean flag high” following her recognition at the Nairobi awards ceremony.

However, the gesture raises questions about the justification for rewarding a Cabinet minister with a brand-new vehicle simply for receiving an award, particularly at a time when many Zimbabweans are struggling to meet basic needs.

While the official statement celebrates the minister’s recognition, it offers no details about the cost of the Ford Ranger Raptor, who financed its purchase or whether public resources were involved.

For citizens facing rising living costs and struggling public services, the presentation of an expensive vehicle to a senior government official is likely to fuel debate over privilege, accountability and the priorities of those in power.