SAZ Congratulates Director General on Election to ISO Council
The Board, Management and Staff of the Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) extend their heartfelt congratulations to the Director General, Mr. Cosmus Mukoyi, on his successful election to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Council for the 2027–2029 term. The elections were held in Paris, France, on 1 October 2026.
The achievement marks a significant milestone for SAZ and Zimbabwe, reflecting the confidence of the international standards community in the country’s leadership and contribution to global standardization. Mr. Mukoyi’s election also elevates Zimbabwe’s voice within an important international standards governance structure and provides an opportunity to advance perspectives relevant to Zimbabwe and Africa.
As Mr. Mukoyi prepares to assume this international responsibility, SAZ is confident that he will represent Zimbabwe and Africa with distinction throughout his 2027–2029 term on the ISO Council.
Zimbabwe’s Quality Leaders Take Centre Stage at NAQA 2026
Zimbabwe’s quality leaders took Centre stage on 11 September 2026 as the 13th edition of the National Annual Quality Awards (NAQA) brought together Government, industry, quality infrastructure institutions and other stakeholders at Hyatt Regency Harare The Meikles. The ceremony recognized organizations, products, services and individuals demonstrating an outstanding commitment to excellence and continual improvement, setting the tone for a quarter defined by the growing role of standards in Zimbabwe’s development.
More than a celebration of achievement, NAQA 2026 highlighted quality as a practical driver of competitiveness, productivity, consumer confidence and sustainable economic growth. The event demonstrated how leadership, innovation, customer focus and disciplined continual improvement can strengthen organizational performance. It also showed that standards should be viewed not merely as a compliance requirement, but as a strategic tool for building resilient and competitive enterprises.
The national quality agenda was reinforced in the Minister’s address, delivered on his behalf by Engineer Muchumairi, Director Business Practices and Trade Measures in the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. The address highlighted the Zimbabwe National Quality Policy 2 (2026–2030). SAZ Director General Mr. Cosmus Mukoyi also urged enterprises to move beyond compliance and use standards as a strategic advantage. Growing national participation was reflected in the rigorous adjudication of 34 entries, 12 more than in 2025, while the process underscored the importance of complete, evidence-based submissions.
National winners will now carry Zimbabwe’s quality story to the regional stage at the SADC Quality Awards, showcasing the country’s progress in embedding quality across organizations, products and services.
ISO 9001:2026 Is Here!
ISO 9001:2026 is here, giving organizations access to the latest edition of the world’s leading Quality Management Systems standard. The revised edition introduces updated requirements and signals the start of the transition period for organizations using ISO 9001.
The arrival of the revised standard is an important development for organizations seeking to strengthen performance, meet customer expectations and demonstrate their commitment to quality. ISO 9001 provides requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining and continually improving a quality management system, helping organizations put in place effective processes and competent personnel to deliver consistent products and services.
The 2026 edition builds on a framework used by more than one million organizations in 189 countries. Its targeted updates improve clarity and usability, strengthen the emphasis on quality culture and leadership, and distinguish risks from opportunities so that organizations can act proactively to pursue beneficial results. Improved alignment with other ISO management system standards also supports easier integration with existing systems.
During the transition, the revised standard can help organizations strengthen customer confidence, improve complaint resolution, identify inefficiencies, reduce waste and refine decision-making. Regular audits and reviews further support the continual improvement of quality management systems and long-term competitiveness. Missed the launch, watch it here
The new ISO 9001:2026 standard is available from the SAZ Standards Desk. SAZ is also conducting transition training to explain the changes and guide organizations in reviewing their systems, planning the required adjustments and preparing for informed implementation.
Standards Power Growth Across Agriculture, Technology and Commerce
The Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) demonstrated the practical role of standards in powering inclusive and sustainable growth through its exhibition at the 2026 Zimbabwe Agricultural Show. From its stand in Rajiv Gandhi Hall, SAZ engaged industry and the public on how standards support productive agriculture, reliable technology and competitive trade under the theme, “Powering Growth: Where Agriculture, Technology and Commerce Converge.”
The show theme recognized that agricultural transformation depends on more than increased production. Sustainable growth emerges when productive and resilient farming systems are strengthened by reliable technology and connected to markets, investment and value chains. SAZ’s participation demonstrated that standards are the thread linking these three pillars, helping to translate agricultural output into safe products, technological innovation into dependable solutions and commercial activity into trusted markets.
Across agriculture and agro-processing, SAZ supports quality, safety and productivity through standards development, food and animal-feed analysis, water testing, pesticide-residue testing, aflatoxin analysis, product certification and food-safety management systems. These services help producers and processors manage risks, improve consistency, meet regulatory and customer requirements and strengthen confidence in Zimbabwean products.
Technology becomes more effective when equipment measures accurately, systems operate reliably and people have the competence to apply recognized requirements. SAZ provides laboratory testing, calibration, engineering inspection, certification and standards-based training to help organizations adopt appropriate technologies, verify performance, improve efficiency and build resilient production systems.
Standards also support the conditions needed for production and innovation to reach the market. Through product and management-system certification, destination inspection, standards information services and its role as Zimbabwe’s World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade National Enquiry Point, SAZ helps businesses demonstrate conformity, protect consumers and navigate requirements for domestic, regional and international trade. These services strengthen market confidence and reduce the risk of substandard goods entering the country.
The Agricultural Show brought together farmers, agribusinesses, technology providers, financial institutions, policymakers and development partners. By engaging these stakeholders, SAZ showed that growth is powered not by isolated activities, but by coordinated systems in which production, innovation and commerce reinforce one another.
SAZ’s participation reinforced a practical national imperative: for agriculture to become more competitive, resilient and commercially viable, products must be tested, systems certified, equipment calibrated, people trained and claims of conformity supported by credible evidence. Through its exhibition and services, SAZ reaffirmed its commitment to helping Zimbabwean organizations turn quality into productivity, trust and sustainable economic growth.