Masvingo Steps Up Preparations for 19th Sanganai/Hlanganani Tourism Expo
By Desire Tshuma
MASVINGO — Preparations for the 19th edition of the Sanganai/Hlanganani Dzimbahwe Tourism Expo have intensified in Masvingo, with Government pushing ahead with infrastructure upgrades and tourism investment opportunities in line with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s devolution agenda of “leaving no one and no place behind.”
Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Hon Barbara Rwodzi, accompanied by Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Hon Ezra Chadzamira, toured key facilities including Gymkhana Tourism Park, Masvingo Airport and the Great Zimbabwe Visitor Centre to assess progress ahead of the September showcase.
The decision to devolve Sanganai/Hlanganani to different cities is part of Government’s broader Vision 2030 and National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) economic transformation thrust. The expo is expected to stimulate tourism infrastructure development, investment and employment opportunities beyond the host city.
The 2026 edition will kick off with the Sports Tourism Carnival from September 1 to 4, followed by the Street Carnival on September 5. The main tourism expo will then run from September 9 to 12.
Minister Rwodzi said taking Sanganai to different provinces was helping to expose investors and international tourism buyers to destinations beyond Harare and Victoria Falls.
“We are taking Sanganai to the provinces because we want to ensure that every province benefits from the tourism value chain. This is in line with the President’s vision of leaving no one and no place behind,” said Minister Rwodzi.
She said Masvingo had significant potential to attract investment because of its strategic location along the regional Cape-to-Cairo corridor and its rich cultural and historical heritage.
“Masvingo has a strategic position and a unique tourism proposition anchored by Great Zimbabwe. We want to see investment coming into five-star accommodation, conference facilities, restaurants, lodges and other tourism products,” she said.
Works at Gymkhana Tourism Park are reportedly about 80 percent complete. The facility is set to accommodate a restaurant, bar, gastronomy hub, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority offices and a mini-stadium. A conference centre is planned as a future development after the expo, further positioning the facility as a major events and tourism hub for Masvingo.
The refurbishment of Masvingo Airport, coupled with road improvements and upgrades at the expo site, is expected to leave behind infrastructure capable of supporting the province’s tourism sector long after the event.
Government and tourism authorities have already recorded strong interest in the expo, with 270 exhibitors registered against a target of 450. There are currently 129 international buyers and 44 local buyers registered, with organisers expecting participation to increase as the event draws closer.
The Great Zimbabwe Visitor Centre will host the welcome cocktail, giving international tourism players an opportunity to experience one of Zimbabwe’s most important heritage destinations while interacting with local tourism operators. The iconic Great Zimbabwe monument is expected to provide a distinctive backdrop to the 2026 edition while showcasing the country’s cultural heritage to international visitors.
Minister Rwodzi also highlighted growing international interest in Zimbabwe, pointing to Australia’s participation in Sanganai for the first time following Zimbabwe’s tourism roadshow. She said increased tourist arrivals from India to destinations promoted during the previous expo in the Eastern Highlands demonstrated the potential of the tourism showcase to translate international exposure into actual tourist flows and investment.
“When we take our tourism products to international markets and bring international buyers to Zimbabwe, we are creating a direct link between exposure, tourist arrivals, investment and sustainable opportunities for our communities,” Minister Rwodzi said.
The devolved model is therefore expected to strengthen provincial tourism economies by giving local operators greater access to international buyers, investors and markets.
Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Hon Ezra Chadzamira said the province was ready to host the prestigious tourism event and would work with Government and other stakeholders to ensure its success.
The preparations are being undertaken through a Whole-of-Government and stakeholder approach, bringing together central Government, the provincial administration, Masvingo City Council, tourism authorities and other key players.
Deputy Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Hon Tongai Mnangagwa, Permanent Secretary for Tourism and Hospitality Industry Dr Takaruza Munyanyiwa, Permanent Secretary for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Mr Pazvakavambwa and representatives from Masvingo City Council were also present during the assessment tour.
With the expo expected to attract hundreds of exhibitors, international buyers and tourism players, Masvingo is positioning the 19th Sanganai/Hlanganani not merely as a four-day event, but as a catalyst for long-term tourism infrastructure, investment and economic development.
For Masvingo, the event also presents an opportunity to turn the province’s rich heritage, led by the iconic Great Zimbabwe, into sustainable economic opportunities for communities while strengthening Zimbabwe’s position on the regional and international tourism map.
